William Otto
William L. Otto, a White Plains resident, died Sept. 11. He was 91.
Otto enjoyed good health until the end. He often laughed at the trials of his early years, where he was beaten up, stabbed and shot. He then went into the Army where he served as a guinea pig through three atomic bombs. In later years, he became a Quaker State oil refinery man, before leaving to go into the building maintenance business. Among his accounts were Manhattan College and New York Law School. He was the only outside contractor for the Spanish Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Flushing. In his business, he supervised 64 of his own men and as many as 189 men for a gentleman known as “The Irish Godfather.” This man saved his life three times. These stories are all in his autobiography “The Last of the Dinosaurs.” He built and then lost a big estate in Sands Point, N.Y., along with millions of dollars in the bad market.
Otto is survived by his daughter, Tina, of Warrensburg, N.Y.; his two grandsons, Warren and Wesley; and his dear friend, Catherine, of White Plains.
He will be honored at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home and the veteran’s honor guard will perform a special service. A few old friends will be welcome to deliver their pearls of wisdom. No flowers are necessary. Anyone feeling flush who would like to contribute to their local church, is asked to speak to the pastor and donate something to a needy family. Do this in his honor because Bill Otto knew what it was to be hungry.
