News
Industry loses respected pump professional and entrepreneur

April 24, 2015, West Garafraxa, Ont. – The ground water industry in
Canada has lost a well-respected professional and entrepreneur in John
Ortt, who passed away on April 20, 2015.

April 24, 2015, West Garafraxa, Ont. – The ground water industry in Canada has lost a well-respected professional and entrepreneur in John Ortt, who passed away on April 20, 2015.

Since 1967, John worked for Beatty Brothers, which would
eventually become GSW. There he reached the position of national sales manager
of the pump division.

In 1980, John started the first of several pump companies,
ASM Industries, followed shortly by International Pump Technology, which
remains a well-recognized business in the industry.

Ever the entrepreneur and wanting to make a difference, John
diversified into the selling of farm equipment and ran for local municipal
office.

John was born on Sept. 6, 1940, in Toronto. However, he
spent his formative years in Barrie, Ont., where he met his wife, Lyn Miller,
whom he married in 1966.

John and Lyn moved to a farm in West Garafraxa after the
birth of their daughter Kelly in 1970. Farming would remain an important part
of the rest of John's life.

“It is with sad hearts the Board and Staff of the Ontario
Ground Water Association say farewell to John Ortt,” the OGWA said in a
statement. “He was a long-standing corporate member, a friend, a colleague, and
most recently inducted as an honorary member. John will be widely remembered as
one of the pivotal, driving forces for the improvement of education, best
business practices, and professionalism in the ground water industry.”

“Our deepest sympathies go out to Lyn and Kelly and their
families, and to John’s friends and colleagues.”