Bob began clowning in 1999 when he took the first                                                                       Clowning 101 class offered in Northside’s Adult                                                                             Community Education program. He said he was retiring                                                               and wanted to learn to clown for his grandkids’ birthday                                                             parties. He had always told jokes, riddles and shared                                                                   cartoons, and had been a clown at heart, so it was a                                                                     perfect fit! He immediately joined the Jolly Joeys Clown                                                                 Alley and became an active member for many years. He                                                             participated in all types of gigs, did parades, and                                                                           attended many TCA conventions. He participated in                                                                     competitions at the convention and was part of several                                                               skits that won awards. He always had the support of his sweet wife, Elaine, who we called Mrs. Riddles. When he slowed down in the later years, he continued to keep his membership in the alley and did clown visitations to his friends that were in nursing homes. Riddles was truly a “caring” clown and has been missed.

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Bob "Riddles" Ottinger 4/24/1927 – 2/11/2023