Austin and I were in Boy Scouts together and shared Camper of the Year award one year at Camp Rotary on Owasco Lake, outside of Auburn, NY. Even then, I think some of us knew he would make it in life with few problems that he couldn't handle. I hadn't thought of him for a while, until something told me to look him up. Now it's too late to say "Hello". The day will come when we get together again. Rest in peace.


Sad news, I always looked forward to seeing him at events, but hated P&L meetings. He was a spot on guy. Crazy he knew even the dishwashers names!

Rest well Mr. Mott!  It was a pleasure knowing you!  I will never forget running into you and your family in upstate New York one summer!

He was so much fun and had a heart of gold! We got in a fight once and I thought we would never speak again. He loved his team and loved the resort and was a wonderful mentor. I was blessed to be a part of the resort when it was truly the best place on the planet!

So I’m working in the recreation Dept.  Long day sun has already set.  It’s getting dark.  No trolley that I can see so I start walking to employee housing. 
Some guy stops and offers me a ride.  Hey thanks!  I get in and he asks what I do so I talked up the recreation department until he dropped me off at security gate and told me WHO he was!  Then proceeded to tell me to keep up the great work!  I was flabbergasted.  Great guy.

That’s a very, very sad news.  Just a great leader and a gentleman. My prayers for his family.

My fondest memory of Mr. Mott was when our recreation office stray cat, Bruno had kittens under our desk. Everybody was stooped down checking out the kittens and then I saw Austin Mott walking up to our office. Everyone popped up. It was so funny. Who were we kidding?He always knew what was going on. From then on, whenever they were trapping feral cats, we were notified to keep our cat inside the office. Sooo sweet of a man he was.
Fly Free Mr. Mott!


He was pivotal in my career as he hired me for my first job in PR. I was so nervous during the interview. I still laugh about it today. I was a sweaty mess.
I loved my years at South Seas Plantation. One of my favorite memories was helping Mr. Mott judge the employee Halloween costumes.
Jean Baer, Kate Sweeney and I dressed up like pirates and visited all the departments. We had lunch at Cap'N Al's and he let us order a Captain Morgan and diet coke. I felt like I had hit the job lottery! (Those were the days!)
He was gruff but had a soft heart. He loved his family and hospitality.  A great leader and man.  I'm so sad.


Sorry to hear about Mr.Mott! He definitely steered the ship at South Seas! A lot of respect for that man!!!

Austin was great GM and firmly at the helm of SSP when I arrived in ‘87.  I can always remember his intimidating “bark” resonating when walking into the Executive offices but more over his willingness to talk and get to know you.  A true kind heart.  Passing on Prayers & Blessings.

He was a great man that lived a great life!  I remember him well, he was intimidating until you got to know him, he had a heart of gold.  Thoughts and prayers to the family.

 Austin Mott was such a presence. When you saw him you stood taller, you gave him the respect he deserved. He was intimidating, no doubt. I’ll never forget his talk to the employees at Don Dehay memorial. It was the 80’s, and I felt he respected Don enough to speak truth in honoring his life.

He hired me and did so many wonderful things for me thru the years. He truly was at the Helm in the good old days. Sending love to his family.

Austin was an incredible leader, role model and mentor.  As the first GM who I worked with in the hospitality industry at South Seas in Human Resources, he set the standard on what excellence was for ourselves as staff and for our guests.  He was a bit intimidating when I first met him, but his character of doing what is right and standing up for his people really showed me who he was - he was “Mr. Mott” to me at first and over the many years working together I was honored to call him Austin.  His praise meant the world to me and I always strived to make him proud.  Austin had a huge heart and you knew he cared about you.  I will cherish the memories and foundation that he gave to me to as a kid coming from Stillwater, OK a chance at a career in the hospitality industry.   I am forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me.  Much love to Pebbie and the family.    ❤️ Cindy (Clark) Johnson

We are thinking of you all tonight with an extremely heavy heart. So thankful for our time with Uncle Austin. Loved celebrating his 70th with him and all the family. So many stories and memories shared. Watching the brothers mess with each other, out of so much love of course. You will be so missed Uncle Turkey! Aunt Pebbie, Katie, Coby and families, sending so many prayers of love and support. 
Love,
Alex, Matt, Mabel and Charlie Horton 

Prayers of comfort and love for Pebbie and the rest of Austin’s  family. 

Austin…. Grandpa…. I am going to miss our time together talking about UT sports, and enjoying  a dark and stormy, telling you about how work is going, bringing you up-to-date on how all of the grandkids are doing. We will miss the twinkle in your eye when Coby and Amelia walked into the room. They brought you so much joy. I love the fact that You and Coby had such special times together when she came to stay with you while Pebbie was painting. I prayed for years that you would have moments with Coby like these.  You blessed Coby more than you know while you were together these last six years.  Love you grandpa!!

I was hired by Austin and was a VP at VISIT FLORIDA for over 11 years.  He was THE BEST leader VISIT FLORIDA has ever had. I loved working for him, he was truly a great man and I learned so much from him. Prayers to his wife and family. He made a huge impact on Florida’s Tourism industry and so many people. Thank you Austin. It was an honor to serve with you. 😘

Austin was one of the finest people I had the privilege of knowing and calling a friend. He was a giant in the tourism industry and a man who challenged those around him to achieve excellence.  I so enjoyed his knowledge,  humor and leadership.  He will be missed by so many.

My sincere  condolences to the entire Mott/Achmoody family. May your many happy family memories be a source of peace and comfort as you grieve your loss!!  

What to say about a 40 year Professional & Personal relationship ? Austin & I arrived on Captiva Island in 1981, he as GM and I as Sales for the resort. Co-worker, Mentor, Boss, Supporter and True Friend as born out over ten years there and the 30 years since.  We related well from the 'Get Go' and I know I am better for it.
Staying in contact from Las Palmas, to Amelia Isl. to Visit Florida and on to Murphy NC when he and Pebbie moved up there. 
We are sad and offer warm good wishes of sympathy and love to Pebbie, the girls and the entire Mott family knowing he is at peace and in a better place now.  
Sincerely ....  J. T.   the old Lefthanded Irishman. 


So sorry to hear of Austin's passing. I worked for him at VISIT FLORIDA early in my career. Austin was tough, but respectful. When he acknowledged you for a job well done, you always knew it was genuine and from the heart. I always admired that about him. My sincerest condolences and prayers to his family. May he rest in peace. 

Austin was a wonderful step-brother. He always had a way of making you feel welcomed.

After we got married, Austin took care of us at Palmas Del Mar, Puerto Rico; the accommodations were great.

We had occasion to visit Austin, Pebbie, Robert, Coby and the kids in December 2016. It was wonderful to see the family.

Roy & Claudia Achmoody

When our family moved to Moravia from Troy, NY, Aussie was one of the first people I met, lived just down the street. He knew everybody, introduced us all around, made us feel welcome, at first I had the impression that he ran the town. We were good friends, spent a lot of time together. When I was at SU Aussie was at Paul Smiths. He came to visit during homecoming weekend. We went to the (traditional) Colgate-SU football game, ended up wandering around to a few parties. When we got back to the stadium we found his ride had left without him! I said I'd take him back but I'd have to find a place to spend a night, to which he responded that for this semester he was managing the local hotel (associated with the college) - how many rooms did I want? It snowed about 2 feet on the way there. A memorable weekend, a great guy and a wonderful friend. Makes me smile just writing this, thinking of him. Godspeed, Aussie.


So very very sad to hear of Austin's passing.  I worked under Austin at VISIT FLORIDA, and he was an exceptional leader and Florida tourism industry advocate.  You definitely knew where you stood with Austin; but, he ALWAYS respected hard work and dedication.  I'll never forget our Florida Road Tours and the convenience store lunch stops :).  I learned a lot from this man and respected him every bit of the way.  He took time to get to know you and genuinely cared about making you a better professional and person in life.  Loved his drop-in-the-office chats.  Always loved the way he'd say - good job kid.  When he gave you a complement - he meant it!  I want the family to know how very much this man meant to a lot of us.  The time at VF under his leadership was some of the best I've ever had in my tourism career.  May his memory be eternal.

I will never forget our days growing up in Moravia, our days in school and our fun we had shooting hoops in the Mott barn especially if you fell the door to the driveway below. Aussie was a class act in our school and beyond. I will never forget our football games too. I hope your children  realize the person you turned out to be.  The class of 1960  miss Austin Mott. Rest In Peace 

Pebbie and family,

I am honored to have been a friend of Austin's and our Bermuda stories all bring back fond memories - and big smiles.  He was a gentleman and a mentor for me plus a exemplary hospitality professional.  He was fun to be around and enjoyed life, but took his personal and professional responsibilities seriously.  My sincerest sympathy to the family.  "To live on in the hearts he leaves behind, is not to die."

I had the chance to work with a legend. Austin Mott was the CEO of VISIT FLORIDA when I joined the company in 1998. I was just 22.

He walked around the office, watching and listening. I always said hello when I passed him in the hall. At first, all I would get was kind of a grunt in reply. I made it my mission to get him to talk to me. I would holler, "Hey Mr Mott!" when I saw him down the hallway or across the lobby. Eventually, he would smile and say hello back.

One day, I came back from lunch to find him standing at the entrance of my cube, reading something that was in my inbox. From that day on, if I had something I was really proud of, I would leave it on the top of my inbox in case he stopped by. And he did. He'd see me in the hall and say, "Great job on that promotion in New York" and I knew where he'd gotten the information. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

I remember him as a man of few words, but when he spoke, you listened.

Several coworkers and I used to try to guess what the L stood for in Austin L. Mott. He never would tell us. Now we know.

Rest in peace, Mr. Mott.

I have fond memories of this wonderful man. He loved his family and employees so much. South Seas Plantation and Austin Mott will always have a special place in my heart. My love to his family and beautiful-inside and out wife Pebby.
Bunny

Pebbie and family,

Too many fond memories with Austin in Bermuda and Florida to post but I am honored to have been his friend over the years and always enjoyed catching up.  He was an honorable man and a fun-to-be-with man, one who was a mentor to me and a dedicated husband and father to Pebbie and the girls. "To live on in the hearts of those he leaves behind, is not to die."

Sending condolences to Austin's family on behalf of the entire tourism community in Lee County, FL. Austin was a highly respected industry leader who won the heart of many, many people during his time in our area.

OBITUARY

Austin Leonard Mott III

April 10, 1942 – November 27, 2021

Berry Highland Memorial

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