John Michael Potts, age 84, died peacefully at the Suncoast Hospice on September 25, 2024.

Michael was born in Toronto, Ontario on February 24,1940, the first of five children to John and Madeliene Potts. He attended Catholic school through grade 13 in Canada, and then went on to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He relocated to Florida in 1983.

In Canada, he loved spending summers at his parents’ cottage on Badgerow Island in the Muskoka Lakes region. Some of his best memories were made there with his parents, siblings, children, nieces and nephews, and friends. They enjoyed boating, swimming, scuba diving, seeing who was brave enough to jump off a cliff called Little Chief, picking blueberries for freshly baked pie, and enjoying the camaraderie of the large extended family. Michael built two boats that he loved driving around the many interconnected lakes in Muskoka.

Music was a big part of Michael’s life. Growing up he learned to play the piano, guitar and later in college a standup acoustic bass. In Canada, he organized several singing groups, choirs and was active in theater. He played with a polka band during his college years, and when in Florida, played in theater orchestra pits, at Unity church and in a bluegrass jam group in Gainesville. He organized and directed a choir while a member of Unity of Clearwater, and later did the same as a member of Unity of Palm Harbor.

After relocating to Florida, he found his love of theater. For over 25 years, he performed in plays in community theater groups. He was a member of West Coast Players, and performed at the Francis Wilson Playhouse, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts, Pasco Suncoast Theater, and Ruth Eckerd Hall. He particularly loved performing in Broadway musicals, such as Funny Girl, My Fair Lady, and Fiddler on the Roof.

Michael worked as a mechanical engineer, building and designing automated machinery for over 40 years. Some interesting projects he worked on include the first machine in the US to produce adhesive-backed postage stamps for the public; a machine for a French company that extracted water from the air and converted it to drinking water, and machinery that manufactured portable roads for a company in Russia.

He is survived by his wife Lynda, 9 children: sons Stephen (Heather), Geoffrey of Ontario, and Matthew (Kim) of California; daughters Allison of Ocala and Ariel of Wisconsin; stepdaughters Bethany Antonelli of New Port Richey, Sara Mattei (Stephen) of Seminole, Kristen Antonelli (Mike) of Clearwater, and Melissa Antonelli Kocher (Jesse) of Oregon; 18 grandchildren: Jessica (Scott), Jamie (Jordan), Megan (Jeffrey), Bradley, Benjamin, Christy, Kavin, Levi, Lexi, Kayla, Austin, Alyssa, Anthony, William, Nathan, Sophia, June, and Milo; 7 great-grandchildren; siblings Murray (Maria), Nancy (Jim), and Christopher (Debby). He is predeceased by his parents John and Madeliene Potts and sister Maureen Potts Thompson.

A Celebration of Life for Michael will be held on November 22 at 2pm at Unity of Palm Harbor. At his wishes, his ashes will be spread in the Muskoka Lakes region that he loved so much. In lieu of flowers, any donations in his memory can be made to the West Coast Players.