He was born in New York and received a bachelor's degree in history from Cornell University in 1980. He spent nearly 20 years working in the media industry in New York City both as a broadcast producer and a director of documentaries and industrial films. He received a master's degree in library science from UNC in 2003. Following his graduation from UNC, he was a reference librarian at UNC's Davis Library before becoming the government data librarian at University Libraries at UNC.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Aprl 26, at 11 a.m. in Room 100 of Hamilton Hall on the UNC Campus.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Williams of Chapel Hill; a daughter, Nell Ovitt of Chapel Hill; his mother, Edna Ovitt of Chapel Hill; two sisters, Judy Jablon of Albany, N.Y., and Marilyn Nutting of North Augusta, S.C.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a college fund for his daughter, Nell. Checks may be made payable to Ovitt College Fund and mailed to the State Employees Credit Union, P.O. Box 878, Carrboro, N.C. 27510 or brought in to the office at 100 N.C. 54 West in Carrboro.