Obituary of Carl E. Otis

Carl E. Otis, age 74 of Eden, New York passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, September 22, 2023. Carl was born on June 28, 1949 in Rochester, NY to Ernestine (Horak) and the late Carl E. Otis Sr. Carl’s mother, Ernestine, was a lifelong organist who passed her love of music to her son (little Butchie). Carl attended St. Margaret’s grade school and later St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute. At St. Joe’s, Carl played the trumpet in the jazz band, was a speed roller-skating coach and instructor, and held a variety of after-school jobs including folding pizza boxes for a penny a piece. Carl graduated from Canisius College with a major in History. He had his son, Carl Jr., in Clifton, NJ and soon moved back to Kenmore to raise his son with family. The Carls had a special relationship having “grown up” together in Carl Sr’s young fatherhood. They lived together in Kenmore sometimes with their friend Stevey and were kept under the close eye of Grandma Otis. They shared their love of all things music and even the trumpet. Later in life they would be three time champions of their Fantasy Football league, which was really just their excuse to spend time gabbing about sports all week. Carl Sr. met the love of his life, Julie (nee Almendinger), in 1986 on a blind date having each of their respective best friends set them up. They married two years later in Eden, NY. In 1990 they welcomed their daughter Claire Elizabeth who would round out the family phrase, “Hers, Mine, and Ours,” referring to Julie’s daughter, Emily, Carl Sr’s son Carl Jr., and their new baby, Clairebear. Carl was the most devoted father to all three of his children. He coached over a decade of Emily’s Eden recreation softball, always coming in 2 nd place at the Corn festival but winning first place in team fun. He was Emily’s partner in crime from the day they met until his last; in school, in sports, in travel, and in trouble. Carl and Claire had the opportunity to spend their father-daughter time at the movies, the outback steakhouse, the Disney Dumbo ride, and every carousel they’d ever set their eyes on. They were best friends all of their days. The pride of Carl’s life arrived with the birth of his first grandson, James (Jamie) Franklin Otis in 2011. Jamie came to visit grandpa often and grandpa took every opportunity to convince the whole family to pile in the van and drive up to Portland, ME to visit Jamie. In the last two years alone, we made the trips over eight times together. Jamie and Grandpa shared many special memories together. Carl was so proud to be officiating the wedding of Emily and Tom (McNinch) in a couple weeks, which would make official his grandpa status with Tom’s Children Robert & Alyssa. Carl loved spending time with Robert under the auspices of “chores” when they were really just watching the Bills games and with Alyssa as his travel buddy on the many trips to Maine. Grandpa was in his element as King Bingo with his now three grandkids and could not have been happier. Carl’s musical endeavors continued his whole life. He was a member of the Trinity Church choir, a cast member of the Eden Immaculate Conception performances of The Witness & Nehemiah, a member of the Orchard Park Symphony Chorale, and lead singer of all rock & roll songs played on our long car trips. In any description of Carl, it always begins with his selflessness. He was a long-time vestry member at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hamburg, NY. He was a member of the Episcopal Diocesan Council, a youth leader, and organizer of many of the church’s events from the annual pig roast to the food pantry golf fundraiser. Carl lived on borrowed time. He was the rock and hero to his family, friends, and even strangers. He managed to will his body and life on for so long for all of us. Having been so proud of us his whole life we can report that we too are so proud and thankful to him for how long he stayed with us. Visitation will be held Friday Sept 29th from 4-8PM at the Laing Funeral Home Inc. 2724 W. Church St. Eden, NY. Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Sept 30th at 11:00AM from the Trinity Episcopal Church, 261 E. Main St. Hamburg, NY Memorials may be given in Carl’s name to the Trinity Food Pantry. Words of sympathy on www.LaingFuneralHome.com