Mort taught Middletown ‘how to give instead of take’

Mort, a longtime community volunteer, died Thursday in his Middletown home. He was 78. His memorial service was held Monday night in Middletown and his ashes will be scattered at the convenience of his family.

Judy Bober, assistant director at Cincinnati State Middletown, said Mort “put his love and life into our town.”

Then she added: “Thank you for teaching so many of us how to give instead of take.”

Mort used his financial background to assist numerous organizations: Dayton Jaycees, All American Weekend, U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships, Art Central Foundation, Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival and Light Up Middletown.

“He always made sure we were on the right track,” Wittman said of the Art Central Foundation, founded in 2005. “He was always there when it came time to revitalize downtown.”

She called Mort “everybody’s dad.”

Gary Lebo, athletic director at Middletown High School, said he fondly remembers the years Mort volunteered as treasurer at All American Weekend, a summer festival at the school. Mort also was a longtime member of the Athletic Boosters Club and regularly attended Middie football and basketball games with his wife, Ann.

“He was an overall great guy,” Lebo said.

Dick and Ann Mort, his wife of 56 years, were integral in many projects around the city. Wittman said Ann Mort helped the foundation with its first program, Got Art!

“They were always such partners,” Wittman said.

Ann Mort called Middletown their “adopted hometown” and her husband, president of his high school, continued that leadership throughout his adult life. He always was the “money guy” at area festivals and events, his wife said.

She said her husband’s health failed the last several years, but throughout the struggles, his humor remained.

“He was a fun and crazy guy,” she said with a laugh. “That’s what most people will remember.”

Mort, born in Dayton, graduated from Monroe High School in Preble County, served a tour in Korea with the U.S. Army, worked as an assembler at Delco Moraine, billing clerk at Consolidated Freightways, an internal auditor for National Cash Register, then accountant and plant controller at Square D in Middletown.