Branimir Botic

Branimir “Ben” Botic passed away peacefully on April 25, 2023. Ben was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (present day Serbia) on January 31, 1942. He escaped the totalitarian regime in Yugoslavia at the young age of 16 and embarked on a two-year journey to join his uncle in the United States. Without his family and with very little money, he made his way to Paris where he eventually made enough money working in construction to rent a room. When he was 18, he reunited with his mother and sister in Paris. Together they then emigrated to the United States and joined his uncle in Detroit, Michigan.

Knowing no English, Ben enrolled in high school in Detroit and vowed to stick with it until he earned a degree. Despite reaching that goal, one of Ben’s teachers saw promise in him and encouraged him to do more. He kept at his studies and, against all odds, was accepted to the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in Materials Engineering in 1968. Upon graduation, he accepted a job with Martin Marietta that brought him to central Florida. Upon settling in Florida, he went on to earn a master’s degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Florida.

While working at Martin Marietta, Ben and a colleague started Suncraft Engineering and Construction in 1976. Initially working nights and weekends to get the business off the ground, he was able to build homes full-time within a few years. By the mid-1980’s, Ben was one of the most respected home builders in central Florida and won several awards for homes entered into the Parade of Homes. He continued designing and building homes for the next 45 years and was a trusted name in the industry.

While in Detroit, Ben met the love of his life and ultimately his wife of 54 years, Hella. Hella was an instrumental part in Ben’s life and was his partner in everything he did, whether helping him get through school in the early years, raising a family, running the business with him, and being his travel partner.

Despite his work ethic, Ben knew there was more to life than work and he lived life to its fullest. Whether it was skiing in Colorado, sailing in the Bahamas, fishing in Boca Grande, traversing Europe, wine tasting in California and France, or just relaxing at the beach, he always had a trip planned. Ben was also passionate about wine, and he amassed a collection of wines from all over the world. Ultimately though, friends and family meant the most to Ben, which shows by the number of life-long friends he had.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents, Danica and Slavko. He is survived by his wife, Hella, his sister Svetlana (Jorgo), his daughter Michelle (Artie), son Bryan (Kimberly), and grandchildren Lauren, Matthew, Beckham, Juliet, and Scarlet.

Services will be held on Monday, May 1st at 12:30 P.M. at St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church located at 1990 Lake Emma Road, Longwood. Graveside service following at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Lake Mary Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either glioblastomafoundation.org or to the Botic Family Scholars Professional Pathways Fund in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at the University of Florida. Donations can be made out to the UF Foundation Inc. fund #025711 and sent to P.O. Box 14425, Gainesville, FL 32604-2425, attn: Gifts and Records. Please note Botic Fund or UF Foundation fund #025711 in the memo area.