Arthur Walter Mamott

Arthur Walter Mamott passed from this life on August 27, 2026 at the age of 96. He was born on October 10, 1929 in Buffalo, New York to Walter and Leona Mamott. He grew up in Buffalo with his sister Shirley. His father was in the printing business. It seems that growing up during the Great Depression had an impact on his later life. He was frugal, recycled before it was the “in thing” to do, and would rather creatively fix something than spend money on buying it new.

He joined the track team in college and competed in the high jump. After graduating college at the University of Buffalo, he volunteered to join the army during the Korean War, but things didn’t go as planned. While clearing some brush in boot camp, he contracted poison ivy and spent some time at the army hospital. While there, his platoon got deployed, so he started boot camp over again. His living quarters were separate from the new platoon. When the new platoon got deployed, the sergeant forgot to include him, so he ended up staying stateside. They assigned him the job of making maps based on gathered intelligence. It is during this time that his 6’1” frame found a love for volleyball.

Arthur married Victoria Hayward in 1961. Their first house was in Cheektowaga, where Arthur joined a bowling league. Blessed with 7 children, the family moved to rural Attica, New York. The homestead included a barn, and after fencing in the property, he filled it with cows, a horse, chickens, ducks, rabbits, cats, and a dog. He planted a large vegetable garden behind the barn, and a small corn field in a meadow down the hill. Once a week, he and Victoria would go Square Dancing. Family outings required a Volkswagen van, one of the few vehicles that could hold a family of 9. Arthur left finding a pew in church up to Victoria.

After seven years on the mini-farm, the family moved to Stuart, Florida where he continued in the printing business. He picked up ocean shore fishing. Often he would bring home his catch, usually snook. Keeping the van running was a frequent weekend job, and it is believed that every child took a turn handing him tools as he banged away underneath it. A few years after the move, Arthur and Victoria divorced, but the love for his children remained.

Eventually Arthur moved to Tallahassee, and he stayed in that area for many years. He loved to swim for exercise, go scalloping with his children, and go camping with family in the woods. Throughout the years, he became a member of the Moose lodge, American Legion, Elks club, Senior Center and carving clubs. He became a very talented wood carver. For over 25 years, starting in 1998, he carved a Christmas ornament for each of his children. He also carved and painted incredible, mechanical, whimsical wooden contraptions.

As he reached into his 90’s, he moved into his daughter’s house where she cared for him like no one else could. He soon moved into the Benton House facility, where he spent the rest of his days with new friends. He started a men’s club while there, and he started a Rummikub group.

Arthur is preceded in death by his sister Shirley Jurek and his son James Arthur. He is survived by his children David (wife Maricela), Mary (husband Dave), Thomas (wife Kelly), Peter, John, and Barbara; grandchildren Chris, Eva, Sophia, Paul, Graham, Erin, Jonathan, Joshua, Benjamin, Katie, and Natalie; great grandchildren Olivia, Miles, Aiden, Blake, Isla and Catalina.

Thank you to the Benton House staff and hospice staff for taking such good care of Art.