Pamela Ann Angotti

Pamela Ann Kesler Angotti slipped away peacefully November 6, 2022, at her home in Cary, NC, following complications of a relatively short illness. Pam was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, November 27, 1946, to James “Pete” Kesler and Mary Tyree Kesler, who preceded her in death. She was educated in Oak Hill schools and loved being a Collins High Red Devil and a member of the Class of 1964. Throughout all of her 75 years, yelling “Beat Beckley” was as natural to her as exhaling although she had not lived in Oak Hill for five decades. Pam was a loving and supportive wife, mother, sister, friend, and mentor whom anyone was lucky to have as an ally. In addition to a myriad of friends, she is survived by her husband of 54 years, Mark Angotti, a Hinton guy who never let her forget that the Bobcats beat the Red Devils to death when she was a cheerleader. When friends spoke of her, it was almost always “Pam and Mark,” because they were one entity-- a true, dedicated couple. Also surviving are their two children, whom she cherished and who brought immediate light to her face--Jennifer Angotti and her husband Bobby Muromoto of Washington, DC; and Matthew Angotti and his partner, Sarah Savoye, Folly Beach, South Carolina. Pam is also survived by her only brother, Charles R. Kesler, who kicked her out of “only child” status when she was 10 and whom she was incredibly proud of and thankful for. Charles and his wife, Sally Pipes, live in Pasadena, California. She is also survived by several cousins and her forever friends. She and Mark met while they were students at WVU, and they were married two weeks after she graduated. The first years of their marriage were spent mostly in Northern Virginia where both she and Mark taught. In 1980 they moved to Cary, North Carolina, opening an Italian restaurant near the campus of North Carolina State University. Pam managed “the front” of the restaurant, which included hiring and training the wait staff. Taking her education background with her, she created procedure and menu tests for prospective employees that included the ingredients of the dishes, long before it became a tradition in fine restaurants. Many successful professionals got their start in hard work and dealing with the public while they were students at NC State and servers at Angotti’s. It was there, during the Jim Valvano era, that she fell in love with State basketball. In later years she became a Duke fam, thanks mostly to Coach K. Basketball was not her only love, however. Every autumn Saturday, if she was at home, she'd be watching college football on TV, especially if the Mountaineers were playing. Many Saturdays, though, she was not at home, because she and Mark were active in the soccer league in Cary. Both of their children were outstanding soccer players and they traveled with the Select Teams all over the state in addition to being involved in soccer fundraisers. After leaving the restaurant business, Pam began selling textbooks for Glencoe/McGraw Hill Publishing Company, and before long her outstanding sales skills were evident as she consistently met and exceeded the goals set by the company. As a senior sales representative in North Carolina, she was twice awarded the “Marathoner” for sales over 110% of the quota. She was both motivated and motivating, making her a salesperson extraordinaire. She was most talented, however, in selling life. She was an encourager, a mentor, a personal shopper, a fashionista, a shoulder, a great dancer, and sometimes a good, solid opinion. The doors to hers and Mark’s home and hearts were always open. Not only was she important to her colleagues and friends, but to their children and grandchildren as well. Her love and joie de vivre spanned generations, and her friends’ children and grandchildren are saddened by her passing. For Pam, it was so important that the chain of friendship remain unbroken. Her human remains are being cremated. The memories of her laughing and dancing will live on. The family plans a memorial and celebration of her life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jimmy V Foundation.

Pamela Ann Angotti

November 27, 1946 - November 6, 2022