OTIS Michael C. age 82, of West Roxbury passed away peacefully and with dignity Friday April 27, 2012 at the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Ma after a lengthy illness. He was the husband of the late Lois J. (Patenaude) who died in 1991. Born and raised in Boston, he was the son of the late James A. Sr. and M. Grace (Eblan) Otis, brother of Barbara G. Perkins of West Roxbury and the late James A. Jr. and John M. Sr., also the brother in law of Josephine Otis of Woburn and the late Frederick L. Perkins.
Michael was the father of six children: Deanna M. and her husband John Pender of Bellingham, Donna M. and her husband Marino Vorrosso of Panama City Beach, Fl, Charles M. and his wife Irene of West Fairlee, Vt, Deborah M. and her husband Robert Curran of Dedham, William H. of Dedham, and Denise A. White of Florida. He was grandfather "Papa" to 19 John, Suzanne, Nicholas and Matthew Pender, Linda Freeman, Christine MacLeod-Sanders, Michele Macleod-Ramsey and Scott MacLeod II, Julie Ann, Alisha, Kristina, Michael, Richard, Amanda, Lily, and Sophia Otis, Robert Curran, Lisa White, and the late Renda Younes, and was great-grandfather of 9 John Michael and Samantha Freeman, Stormy, Rocky, Madison and Sophia Sanders, Rylan Leslie Ramsey, and Lilly and Alexis Army. Also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews, and his dear friend Kathleen Fahey.
Funeral from the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY on Wednesday, May 2nd. at 9am. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Theresa Church at 10 o’clock. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8pm. Relatives and friends invited. Interment Mt. Benedict Cemetery.
Born July 19,1929, Michael attended Boston public schools. Following school he entered the printing trade working for both Lewis Printing and Trade Composition in Boston. Drafted in 1951, his chosen branch of military service became the Navy, serving four years aboard the USS Beatty DD-756 during the Korean War. Following active duty, his military career continued four more years in the Naval Reserves, during which time, after returning to civilian work at Trade Composition, he met ("the smartest secretary at Trade Comp") Lois. They married in June of 1959 and settled in West Roxbury to raise a family. That same year, he began his newspaper career at the Boston Herald Traveler as a compositor (typesetter), then, in the mid 70's, joined the Boston Globe until his retirement in the early 1990's.
Michael was an avid photographer and history buff. He spent his free time researching his family geneology dating back to Colonial America and compiling a manuscript about his ancester - American Revolutionary War Naval Commander Captain John Skimmer. Other hobbies included fishing, collecting books, shopping with coupons, and watching old movies. His love of the sea was instilled in his family through their frequent trips to Duxbury Beach and the Cape Cod Canal.
His family wishes to recognize the Faulkner Hospital Intensive Care Unit, and thank them for their compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Deutsches Altenheim Resident Activity Fund in West Roxbury, or the Belkin House Dialysis Center at the Faulkner Hospital in appreciation for the loving, professional, and dignified care Michael received in the final years of his life.