Dr. Mollie Stell Wiggins Ottina, 84, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2024 at The Collier at Naples after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Ottina was born in Wake Forest, North Carolina to the late James Russell Wiggins and the late Alline Gaston Johnson (Wiggins). She received both her Baccalaureate degree and her doctorate in education from Wake Forest University. She married the Honorable John R. Ottina, who served as the 20th U.S. Commissioner of Education and Assistant Secretary of Administration and Management in the former Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and who preceded her in death in 2008. Mollie always used her knowledge and experience to support and nurture a variety of arts and education organizations both in Northern Virginia and Southwest Florida. She and John were strong supporters and prolific fundraisers for Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts (the nation’s only national performing arts park) in Vienna, VA and Mollie served on its Board. When they relocated to Naples, FL, Mollie devoted herself to many organizations including the Ronald McDonald House, AAUW, and the David Lawrence Foundation. She and John were well-known for their gracious hospitality in support of many good causes. She also loved being part of the Naples Bridge Club and treasured her time there. She was a graduate and former Board member of Greater Naples Leadership and recruited others to participate in this important program. She is reunited now with her beloved John and all of her Cairn Terriers that preceded her. Her friends will all miss her deeply. We thank Avow Hospice of Naples and Advocate In-Home Care for their kind and compassionate care for Mollie. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Alline Johnson Wiggins and Mollie Wiggins Ottina Scholarship Fund at Wake Forest University, go.wfu.edu/OttinaScholarship. Mollie set up this fund to honor her mother and to support womens’; education.