Obituary of Michael G. Potapow

Ocala - Michael G. Potapow, Sr., 66, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011 at West Marion Community Hospital. He was born in New York, NY and moved to Ocala in 1983 from South Bend, IN. He was a member of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church and served on the Board of Trustees for Munroe Regional Medical Center. He also served on the Board of Directors of Boggy Creek and Ronald McDonald's House. He served his country in the U. S. Army as a helicopter pilot, 1st Cavalry in Panama. He was an avid sportsman, member of the Ferrari Club, loved road rallies and flying. He is survived by his wife, Kitty Potapow of Ocala, his daughter, Nicole (Chris) Boivin of Jacksonville,FL, his sons, Michael G.(Tobi) Potapow, Jr. of Gainesville and Kevin Potapow of Ocala, his grandchildren, Michael G. Potapow, III, Lynley and Allison, his mother, Alice Potapow of Ocala, his brother, Richard Potapow of NJ, his step children, Nathan and Sarah Pyles , his step granddaughter, Alexcia Tooley and his special family, Alisha Sapp, Kami Morgan, Jeremy Fairbanks and Jeffrey Hazelden. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Antonia Potapow in 1997 and his brother Gregory Potapow. A Funeral Mass will be said on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at 12 noon at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church with Father Pat Sheedy officiating. Entombment will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. A visitation will be held on Friday from 6-8 PM at Hiers-Baxley Belleview Chapel, 5946 SE Robinson Rd., Belleview, FL. Those who wish may make contributions to the Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville, the Phoenix House of Citra or the Royal Dames for Cancer Research. Arrangements by Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 910 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.