I'm Witkov, not Witkoff

Part of my growing up experience included my friends affectionately calling me just by my last name, and my high school coaches doing the same, only not so affectionately. Problem is, most people have a tendency to mispronounce my last name. Instead of pronouncing the letter “v” at the end, they say it like my last name ends with an “f.” Hence Witkov becomes Witkoff. When I spell my name (over the phone or checking in somewhere) I always finish with, “That last letter is a ‘v’ as in the word ‘victory.’” But, more often than not, they still get it wrong.

I keep hearing the name “Witkoff” on the...