Retired accountant was an avid sailor

9/28/2001

James N. Witt, a retired certified public accountant and avid sailor, died Wednesday in the Arbors of Sylvania nursing home, where he had been a resident for 18 months. He was 74, and in failing health after suffering a series of strokes.

Mr. Witt worked for Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. and as a partner in two accounting firms, his daughter, Marta Witt, said.

He was an internal auditor for LOF from 1956-58, then became a partner in the firm of LaFrance, Walker, Jackley, and Saville. From 1951-56, he worked in the firm of Konopak and Dalton.

In 1964, he helped form another partnership, Bower, Witt and Co., which was dissolved in 1993.

After that, he was associated with Miller, Gardner and Co. until ill health forced him to retire in 1997, his daughter said.

His first accounting job was with the former Toledo Scale Co., where he worked from 1950-51. It was there he met his wife, Shirley, a member of the company's advertising department. They married in 1953.

A Sylvania Township resident, Mr. Witt was a sailor for 30 years. He kept his 30-foot Tartan at North Cape Yacht Club, in LaSalle Township, Mich., where he was known for the red sail he used that was easy to see from shore.

“He had to be careful not to make a lot of mistakes, because everybody could recognize him,” his daughter said.

Mr. Witt was active in Trinity Episcopal Church, where he was treasurer for several years.

Other memberships included the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Ohio Chapter of CPAs, Zenobia Shrine, and the University of Toledo alumni association.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley; daughters, Marta Witt, Laurel Johnston, and Robin Wonders, and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity Episcopal Church. The body will be in the Reeb Funeral Home after 3 p.m. Sunday.

The family requests tributes to the burn unit of the Shriners Hospital for Children.