Here is a reprint of the notice I read in the Orlando Sentinel this morning…
Billy Boltin, age 86, went home to his heavenly father, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 10, 2021. Billy was born in Gainesville, FL on August 23, 1935, to William Golden Boltin, Jr. and Temple Jefferson Millsap Boltin. Billy graduated from both The University of Florida (1957), where he was a proud brother in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and The University of Florida College of Law (1960). After law school, Billy moved to Orlando where he joined the law firm Akerman, Turnbull, Senterfitt & Eidson before starting his own practice. In 1995, Billy joined GrayRobinson, P.A., where he practiced until his retirement in 2000. Billy has been a life-long pillar of his community and a friend to many. During his 40-year legal career, Billy focused on the practice of real estate law and was known for his keen mind, charm and knack for closing deals. Billy’s experience in the 1960s assisting South FL condominium developers led him to put together a small group of local investors to develop one of the first ocean front condominiums in New Smyrna Beach, Ocean Club South. His friends told him he was crazy to think people from Orlando would purchase condominiums so far south on New Smyrna Beach. His family spent many happy weekends and summers in NSB, and Billy happily commuted back and forth to work in Orlando to be with his family. Instrumental in developing Florida’s condominium laws, Billy filed the first Condominium Declarations in Orange, Lake, Volusia, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee and Alachua counties.
In addition to his devotion to his God, family, friends and clients, Billy served his community through leadership roles on numerous committees and advisory boards of The Florida Bar, as a Director and President of the Country Club of Orlando, Director of the University Club of Orlando. Billy served as a member of the North Orlando Kiwanis Club and as a Member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.
While his professional achievements and contributions were many, Billy believed in both working and playing hard. Adored by his friends as a true southern gentleman and master storyteller, one of his favorite quotes was “let the good times roll.”
Billy’s greatest priority was his family. He loved having a family of women he affectionately called “My Girls.” Always encouraging his children and grandchildren to live life to the fullest, Billy would send them off on each adventure with a mischievous wink saying, “don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and that gives you one helluva range.” The love of Billy’s life was his wife, Carolyn Augusta Canova Boltin. They were born in the same hospital and married for 64 years. Billy and Carolyn shared many happy years raising their girls on the shores of Lake Down in Windermere, traveling the world with friends and sharing Summer and Fall months at their North GA cabin affectionately known as “Moody Hollow.” Their life together was a great adventure. Each Spring for the first ten years after Billy retired, they rented an apartment in the French Quarter immersing themselves in all aspects of New Orleans culture.
Billy is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn, his children, Temple Boltin Anderson (Michael) of Windermere, FL and Carolyn Boltin Teeter (Joseph) of Alpharetta, GA, grandchildren, Katherine Trumbo Newberg (Todd) of Orlando, FL, Boltin Charles Teeter of Honolulu, HI and Charlotte Augusta Teeter of Lubbock, TX, great grandchildren, Francine “Frannie” Carolyn Newberg and Philip “Pip” Harvey Newberg of Orlando, FL, Sister, Frances Boltin Montgomery,
Sister-in-law, Mary Anne Canova Howard and many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Private Service will be held for the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts in Billy Boltin’s memory to: St. Michael’s/The Gathering, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2499 N. Westmoreland Dr., Orlando, FL 32804.
Here is the post that I made at the Orlando Sentinel this morning….
When I saw the notice this morning in the newspaper, I was instantly taken back to my childhood growing up in Audubon Park in Orlando. I am the youngest son of Ray and Marie Lilley. I believe that my father Ray came to know Billy at Akerman, Senterfitt back in the 60’s, although I can’t be certain. I was baptized at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in 1967 and Billy was my Godfather. Having said that, I didn’t know Billy all that well… which is to say I may have been introduced to him when I was very young. But I wanted to share an act of kindness that Billy and Carolyn expressed in my teenage years. Long after my parents were divorced, Billy and Carolyn would stop by my house in Audubon Park to give me a birthday gift every year. One year, my birthday gift was was album by the rock group Rush, called “Moving Pictures”. I played that album every night for a long time. And to this day, that album continues to be one of rock music’s greatest achievements. It’s the little acts of kindness that makes a difference in a young man’s life. Growing up with just my mother was difficult, however, it was nice to know that my Godfather remembered to bring a birthday gift to my house every year. I was never given an opportunity to thank Billy and Carolyn. I do remember that my mother was very fond of both my godparents. I imagine it was because of the little acts of kindness that made a difference in a little boy’s life.