In Memoriam | May 2023
Donald Williams | BSBA ’53 | 1927-2023 | Williams, of St. Augustine, Florida, passed on April 14. He served in the military, starting as a career officer, touring around the world, and eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. Williams was known for having an excellent sense of humor, expressed in dry quips and telling long jokes.
Raymond Shashaty | BSBA ’56 | 1932-2023 | Shashaty, of The Villages, Florida, passed on March 19. After graduating from UF, he worked as the president of a moving and storage company while serving as a colonel in the United States Army Reserve. He was devoted to his family and enjoyed playing golf.
Peter Anninos | BSBA ’60 | 1937-2023 | Anninos, of Sea Isle City, New Jersey, passed on May 12. After completing his education at UF, he served three tours in the military before moving onto a managerial career in retail. It was through his work that he met his wife: In one of his many managerial positions, he hired a waitress, Mary, whom he married two years later. After co-founding a local athletic association, he coached their sons’ baseball teams for many years.
Ernest Hamilton | BSAc ’63 | 1933-2023 | Hamilton, of Portland, Oregon, passed on April 8. He grew up in the 10,000 Islands during the Great Depression, before the islands became Everglades National Park. He served in the military before attending UF, and after graduation established his own accounting firm. Hamilton invested his free time in leading local clubs, piloting a personal plane with his wife and writing and publishing many books.
Stephen McGinnis | BA ’69, BSBA ’73 | 1947-2023 | McGinnis, of Fayetteville, New York, passed on March 3. Before attending UF, he served in the military as a member of the Berlin Brigade with the National Security Agency. After completing his service and education, he pursued a career as a home builder and land developer, initially working with his father in their family business. During his career, he developed several subdivisions, and in his free time enjoyed playing golf and passing on knowledge to his sons.
Donald Walther | BSBA ’84 | 1961-2023 | Walther, of Sarasota, Florida, passed on January 9. After graduating from UF he started a career in banking, working locally for 40 years. Outside of the office, he was a member of the South Manatee Sertoma Club, volunteered with various organizations and spent time with his family and friends.
Bartow R. Bell, Jr. | BSBA ’93 | 2023 | Bell, of Riverdale, Georgia, recently passed. He earned his undergraduate degree with a specialization in finance at UF.
Michael Fugett | MBA ’09 | 1977-2023 | Fugett, of Reno, Nevada, passed on May 9. After earning his graduate degree from UF, he spent his career serving as a pilot in the military, compiling more than 4,000 flying hours, including 800 in combat. He commanded several squadrons, and also fought fires in the United States by delivering thousands of gallons of water via airplane. In his free time, he loved travelling with his family, capturing photographs of destinations on all seven continents.
