Christopher Ortman

Christopher John Ortman, 65, gave up his 10-year struggle with Young-Onset Alzheimer's Disease at home surrounded by family on July 25, 2019.

A lifetime resident of Columbus and Westerville, Chris grew up on the east side of the city and attended Christ the King Elementary, Johnson Park Middle and Eastmoor High schools.

As a long-time Boston Celtics fan, Chris loved playing basketball in middle and high school and covered football and wrestling for the student newspaper at Eastmoor; he also worked part time for his uncles who owned the former Farley & Sons Candy and Tobacco Company on Barnett Rd. He briefly attended The Ohio State University and then accepted a job with The Federal Reserve Bank in Columbus.

For many years Chris coached middle school and later freshman basketball at Christ the King and St. Charles Preparatory School with boyhood friends Terry Ellifritz and Paul Bott. Chris was a patient, dedicated coach who led his Christ the King teams to several citywide diocesan championships and co-authored a locally published book on basketball fundamentals with Ellifritz.

As a devoted Ohio State fan, Chris was proud to have graduated from Eastmoor High School with OSU two-time Heissman trophy winner Archie Griffin, and he followed Buckeye football for decades. Although officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2012, Chris was thrilled to attend OSU's semi-final game in New Orleans and the final game in Dallas as the Buckeyes won the first National College Football Championship in January 2015.

In addition to working at the Federal Reserve and Farley & Sons, Chris was general manager at the former Rosati's Supermarket, service manager at Ricart Vanland, and for 17 years was general manager of FunTrail Inc in Clintonville.

Chris greatly enjoyed playing golf—first with his father and brothers when he was young, and later with friends and in various golf leagues. He and a group of Hartley High School grads played in several annual golf tournaments for decades. Chris was also a member of the Spring Grove Golf League for many years, serving as president for several.

From the outset of his Alzheimer's diagnosis, Chris maintained an amazingly positive attitude toward the disease and vowed to make the most of the time he had left. He and his wife Sarah traveled extensively, visiting family, friends and various places around the world on their bucket list, including multiple trips to Southern California, where he spent many summers with his great uncle. Chris was a lifetime lover of classic rock music, and he and his wife Sarah attended many concerts over the years.

Chris was preceded in death by his parents William and Mary Louise (Farley) Ortman, his beloved great uncle Howard Farley, his close cousin Michael Burns, and special niece Lori Lundrigan and nephew Brent Graney.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years Sarah (Stanbro) Ortman; daughters Angela (Josh) Kulow, Emily (Joe Stark) Ortman and Alissa Ortman; grandchildren Taylor and Madison Kulow and Eric and Thea Stark; his beloved rescue dog Callie; his aunt Esther (Dave) Burns; brothers Steve (Lani) Ortman and Tim (Margo) Ortman; sisters Sandra (Tom) Kujawa, Mary Beth (Maurice) Lundrigan and Connie Graney; special cousins Karen Gruber; Jude, Matt and Elise Farley, and Jim, David, Robert and Chris Bing; and especially supportive long time friends Rick and Kathy Durso, Tom and Lee Brewer, Mark and Ruth Houck, and Dan McCuen and Mary Ellen Zoerner. Chris is also survived by 20 nieces and nephews and 39 great nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Chris's wonderful caregivers and nurses at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor and Kindred Hospice.

A memorial mass will be held at Resurrection Catholic Church in New Albany at noon on Saturday, Aug 17, and at Chris's request, a celebration of life gathering for all family and friends will be held from 4 - 8 p.m. at Gatsby's in Gahanna the same day. The family will also greet friends from 11 a.m.- noon at the church before the memorial mass.

Arrangements are being handled by Newcomer Funeral Home.

Donations in Chris's memory may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio (https://www.alz.org/centralohio/donate), 1379 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215.