Biography

Entered into eternal rest on Sunday, February 7, 2010 James LeRay Botto, husband of Yelena Rijkova Botto of Wadmalaw Island, SC. He was born in Lakewood, OH, the son of. Claude L. Botto and Marie Grace Doyle Botto, a Charleston native, on Wednesday, August 23, 1941. He attended parochial schools and graduated from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, where he won the highest award, The Gold Key, in the high school band his junior year. He learned sales doing neighborhood chores and delivering newspapers for nine years. In 1959, he entered The Citadel and studied there for three years. In 1962 he joined the Army Reserve, 78th Division, for one tour. He fell in love with the food supermarket industry, as his great-grandfather had two general stores. He succeeded in the food brokerage, bakery supply, and food manufacturing businesses in Charleston, California, and Dublin, Ireland where he resided for seven years. He retired as a national marketing manager in the food brokerage industry. He was an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Johns Island. He was a member of the Citadel Brigadier Club, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sea Island Yacht Club, Harbour Club, BPO Elks Lodge #242, The American Legion, VFW, and a past member of The Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Mr. Botto is survived by his wife, Yelena R Botto; daughter, Elizabeth Collins Botto Compton and her husband Matt; son, James Joseph Botto and his wife Sherri; son, Edward Allen Botto; daughter, Natalya Vinnik; daughter, Oksana Homza, daughter, Bridget Aileen Botto and seven grandchildren, Igor, Joseph, Anastasia, Joseph Allen, Jenna, Mary Collins and Eliza. He is also survived by many cousins.
The relatives and friends of James L. Botto are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, Thursday, February 11, 2010 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on John’s Island. The Rite of Committal will be held in Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island. The family will receive friends this Wednesday evening between the hours of 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to Habitat for Humanity, 731 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403.

Visitation

Wednesday February 10, 2010, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at James A. McAlister Funeral Home
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Mass of Christian Burial

Thursday February 11, 2010, 11:00 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church
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Burial

Thursday February 11, 2010 at Holy Cross Cemetery
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