William “Bill” Altman, 83, of Sarasota, Florida, died suddenly on Friday, February 11, 2022 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Bill was born in Bridgeport, West Virginia to Evelyn and William Altman on July 29, 1938. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Anna Marie Reiter, and a nephew, Jeffrey Reiter.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sally Gainer Altman, who was his high school sweetheart, and their only son, Eric Altman (Joe) of Walnut, California. In addition to his wife and son, he is also survived by his sister, Sheila Peterson, of Grayslake, Illinois; brother-in-law, Hugh Gainer, Bridgeport, WV; niece, Marni Lynn Brzezinski (John), Crystal Lake, Illinois; nephew, David Reiter (Angela), West End, North Carolina; nephew, Scott Gainer (Tawnie), Bridgeport, WV; great niece Ashley Reiter; great-nephews, Matthew Brzezinski, Nicholas Brzezinski, Micah Gainer and Matthew Gainer. Bill had several Altman and Cleer cousins, as well as extended family members and a multitude of friends who were very special to him.
Bill graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1956. He was an avid athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. Bill led his high school football team to the school’s first state championship win in 1955. He was the team’s star quarterback who called his own games! In the fall of 1956, he entered the West Virginia University School of Engineering. Bill graduated from West Virginia University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and received his Master of Science in Applied Mathematics a year later. Bill was an active member of Sphinx, Senior Men’s Honorary, Alpha Pi Mu, Industrial Engineering Honorary and AIIE. He was part of the ROTC program and upon graduation he began an acting position with General Electric in Louisville, Kentucky, before beginning his tour of duty in the United States Army as a commissioned officer. Bill was stationed at Joliet Arsenal in Wilmington, Illinois, in the purchasing division, where he and Sally made lifelong friends. After completing his tour of duty, he remained in the Reserves for several years.
After being discharged from the United States Army, Bill accepted a job with Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois. This began a long career advising and restructuring companies all over the United States and Europe. Bill has held executive positions for the Jewel Companies, Chicago, Illinois (Osco Drug Division); George Weston, Ltd., Toronto, Canada (Tamblyn Drug Division); Peter J. Schmidt, Buffalo, New York; Louis A. Zahn Drug Company, Chicago, Illinois; AL Laboratories, Fort. Lee, New Jersey; Barre Laboratories, Baltimore, Maryland; Bespak Pharmaceuticals, Kings Lynn and London, England; Technology Applications Group, Inc. (Tangite precision coatings for magnesium), Grand Forks, ND; then his own independent consulting firm. This business experience is in addition to 40 years in international pharmaceuticals, consumer products and management consulting, including 28 years as Chairman/CEO of several of the above companies.
In semi-retirement, Bill and Sally moved to a home in Maple Lake, Bridgeport, West Virginia, where they reconnected with longtime family and friends. Once the snow got too deep, they moved to Sarasota, Florida to become full-time residents at Stoneybrook, Palmer Ranch. It was there that Bill fulfilled his dream of always living on a golf course, perfecting his golf swing, and walking around the community wearing his favorite West Virginia cap. Stoneybrook is a “giving back” community, and Bill has actively supported the Armed Forces Golf Tournament, the Breast Health Sarasota Golf Tournament, and other charities in Sarasota and beyond.
Never too idle and carefree, Bill became active in the Stoneybrook community serving on various committees including Finance, Food and Beverage, Governance, Home and Long Range Planning. He was elected to the Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club Board of Directors as Governor and in that capacity served several terms as Chairman of the Board. Currently, he was the voting representative on the MacGregor Pines HOA Board of Directors. For two years he served on the Palmer Ranch Master Association Board of Directors as Treasurer.
Bill’s golf group, the Friday Follies, has been a source of fun and camaraderie for over 20 years. The “Follies” were not just a golf group, but a group that included spouses and significant others, providing fun times, as well as love and support for all in times of need.
A celebration of life will take place later at Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club, Palmer Ranch. Bill loved sharing stories, so this will be the time for everyone to do so.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Toale Brothers Funeral Home, www.toalebrothers.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to: Children First, Sarasota, FL (www.childrenfirst.net); First Tee, Sarasota/Manatee, Florida (www.firstteesarasotamanatee.org); First United Methodist Church, Sarasota, FL (www.firstsrq.com); or Bridgeport United Methodist Church, Bridgeport, WV (www.bridgeportumc.org).
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sally Gainer Altman, who was his high school sweetheart, and their only son, Eric Altman (Joe) of Walnut, California. In addition to his wife and son, he is also survived by his sister, Sheila Peterson, of Grayslake, Illinois; brother-in-law, Hugh Gainer, Bridgeport, WV; niece, Marni Lynn Brzezinski (John), Crystal Lake, Illinois; nephew, David Reiter (Angela), West End, North Carolina; nephew, Scott Gainer (Tawnie), Bridgeport, WV; great niece Ashley Reiter; great-nephews, Matthew Brzezinski, Nicholas Brzezinski, Micah Gainer and Matthew Gainer. Bill had several Altman and Cleer cousins, as well as extended family members and a multitude of friends who were very special to him.
Bill graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1956. He was an avid athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. Bill led his high school football team to the school’s first state championship win in 1955. He was the team’s star quarterback who called his own games! In the fall of 1956, he entered the West Virginia University School of Engineering. Bill graduated from West Virginia University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and received his Master of Science in Applied Mathematics a year later. Bill was an active member of Sphinx, Senior Men’s Honorary, Alpha Pi Mu, Industrial Engineering Honorary and AIIE. He was part of the ROTC program and upon graduation he began an acting position with General Electric in Louisville, Kentucky, before beginning his tour of duty in the United States Army as a commissioned officer. Bill was stationed at Joliet Arsenal in Wilmington, Illinois, in the purchasing division, where he and Sally made lifelong friends. After completing his tour of duty, he remained in the Reserves for several years.
After being discharged from the United States Army, Bill accepted a job with Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois. This began a long career advising and restructuring companies all over the United States and Europe. Bill has held executive positions for the Jewel Companies, Chicago, Illinois (Osco Drug Division); George Weston, Ltd., Toronto, Canada (Tamblyn Drug Division); Peter J. Schmidt, Buffalo, New York; Louis A. Zahn Drug Company, Chicago, Illinois; AL Laboratories, Fort. Lee, New Jersey; Barre Laboratories, Baltimore, Maryland; Bespak Pharmaceuticals, Kings Lynn and London, England; Technology Applications Group, Inc. (Tangite precision coatings for magnesium), Grand Forks, ND; then his own independent consulting firm. This business experience is in addition to 40 years in international pharmaceuticals, consumer products and management consulting, including 28 years as Chairman/CEO of several of the above companies.
In semi-retirement, Bill and Sally moved to a home in Maple Lake, Bridgeport, West Virginia, where they reconnected with longtime family and friends. Once the snow got too deep, they moved to Sarasota, Florida to become full-time residents at Stoneybrook, Palmer Ranch. It was there that Bill fulfilled his dream of always living on a golf course, perfecting his golf swing, and walking around the community wearing his favorite West Virginia cap. Stoneybrook is a “giving back” community, and Bill has actively supported the Armed Forces Golf Tournament, the Breast Health Sarasota Golf Tournament, and other charities in Sarasota and beyond.
Never too idle and carefree, Bill became active in the Stoneybrook community serving on various committees including Finance, Food and Beverage, Governance, Home and Long Range Planning. He was elected to the Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club Board of Directors as Governor and in that capacity served several terms as Chairman of the Board. Currently, he was the voting representative on the MacGregor Pines HOA Board of Directors. For two years he served on the Palmer Ranch Master Association Board of Directors as Treasurer.
Bill’s golf group, the Friday Follies, has been a source of fun and camaraderie for over 20 years. The “Follies” were not just a golf group, but a group that included spouses and significant others, providing fun times, as well as love and support for all in times of need.
A celebration of life will take place later at Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club, Palmer Ranch. Bill loved sharing stories, so this will be the time for everyone to do so.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Toale Brothers Funeral Home, www.toalebrothers.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to: Children First, Sarasota, FL (www.childrenfirst.net); First Tee, Sarasota/Manatee, Florida (www.firstteesarasotamanatee.org); First United Methodist Church, Sarasota, FL (www.firstsrq.com); or Bridgeport United Methodist Church, Bridgeport, WV (www.bridgeportumc.org).
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
Posted by Toale Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory – Colonial Chapel – Sarasota on February 18, 2022.
