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DECEASED ALUM: WILLIAM "BILLY" FOTIS, FHHS CLASS OF 1969
Charles William Fotis Jr.
June 22, 1951 – November 3, 2024
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, Billy Fotis, passed away at home of natural causes. He was born in Washington, DC on June 22, 1951. He studied English at Tufts University before pursuing a degree in architecture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
After working for the leading architecture firms in the DMV he started his own Design and Build Studio. Billy is well known around town as the ‘nicest guy in any room’ and became a local legend hosting Bangkok Blues Jams and Open Mics while playing with his Crow Valley Band.
He lived a life of service to his family, AA and music. He is irreplaceable. He leaves behind his mother Dorothea, son Cole, brother Stephen (Jill Riley), sister Linda (Zan McLeod), nephew Riley, cousins, nieces and his AA Family. He passed away holding his guitar and singing.
There will be a memorial service at Demaine's Funeral Home on November 23 at 2pm.
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Joe Gililland (1973)
Rick Gray, FHHS '69 posted this on Facebook:
"Just saw a post from Bill's sister Linda that Bill Fotis passed away on 11/4. He was enjoying his real life as a performer. Has many YouTube videos as Bill F. Otis. Check them out.
RIP brother"
Class of 69
James Vitt (1970)
My condolences to Bill's mom, Dorothy, and Bill's siblings, Linda and Stephen, and Bill's son, Cole . Bill, Linda, Stephen and I grew up together in Westgrove. We spent hours together shooting hoops in the Fotis driveway, throwing baseballs and just being kids hanging out in the neighborhood. Riding the bus together to elementary, jr high and highschool. In 1964, when the Beatles broke, Bill took the bus into town, bought the 45 record, "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and stopped by my house on his way home from the bus stop. We played that record on our family Magnavox in the living room before the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan. That was the first I'd heard of the Beatles, and that was classic Bill. Ahead of the curve, with a keene intellect and deep curiosity. More recently, our paths crossed in music circles, and we caught up a bit. He's part of my fabric. I'm glad to hear he was playing music and doing what he loved, right up to the Great Transition. I'll channel Bill this evening when I get together with some buddies, plug in my Stratocaster, and butcher some tunes. RIP, Bill.