NEW LONDON, NH — Henry Stuart Otto Jr. died peacefully in his New London home on June 8th, surrounded by his loving family. Hank was born on March 19th, 1929 in New York, New York to Henry Stuart Otto Sr. and Mary Joslin Otto.
In 1947 he enrolled at Colorado College where he was a proud member of the football program and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. At CC, Hank met his beloved bride of 63 years, Elizabeth Davis. Upon graduation, Hank was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps, proudly following in the footsteps of his father who served in the Army during both World Wars. Shortly after completion of his service, Hank returned to his childhood home of Scarsdale with Bette, where they would raise their children Henry III (Trey), Stephen, and Elizabeth. There, they made lifelong friends as members of Fox Meadow Tennis Club and St. James the Less Episcopal Church. After four decades in New York, Hank and Bette retired to New London, New Hampshire, where Hank had spent memorable summers as a boy. Once arriving in New London, Hank and Bette became fast members of the community. Hank was quickly drawn to the New London Historical (“Hysterical”) Society, was a devoted member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, joined the Colby Sawyer Chargers Club, and showed off his prized 1937 Ford dump truck in the annual New London Hospital Days Parade. Always selfless with his time, Hank organized USMC birthday celebrations for the Kearsarge Marines group and also volunteered at the NEHSA ski program at Mount Sunapee. The underlying theme of his community involvement was always his love for people and building precious relationships. Hank took the opportunity to make each of his favorite activities into a social event – whether making marmalade, Granny’s green tomato pickle, or pressing apple cider with his 1899-model cider mill. Above all, Hank received the most pleasure from his family, especially when congregated at his grandfather’s historic summer home at Buffalo Hill Farm in Oxford, MA. Popey, as he is affectionately known by his family, never lost his thirst for adventure. In recent years he returned to the Matterhorn with his lifelong friend and CC classmate, Doug Van Metre (“Moose”), sailed along the Maine Coast aboard the schooner Mercantile, and attended reunions at Colorado College and The Dublin School.
Hank is survived by his children, their spouses: Bonnie, Sue, and Chris, as well as his grandchildren: Matt, Kyle, Paul, and Haleigh, by whom he will be missed dearly. He is now reunited with Bette, his siblings Mary, Bett, and Tim, his first grandchild, Zachary, and countless dear friends. The family hopes that all who knew him will continue to be inspired by his legacy of generosity, kindness, gratitude, enthusiastic story-telling, and genuine love for others.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the New London Historical Society, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and Lake Sunapee VNA & Hospice Care. Details for a celebration of Hank’s life are to be determined.