Otto Brandt

Dr. Otto Brandt Jr, 91 passed away peacefully at his beloved Seton Hospital on March 21, 2010. He is preceded in death by his wife, Bette Ann Brandt. Otto was born August 29, 1918 in Brenham, Texas to Otto and Laura Brandt. He graduated from Brenham High School as Valedictorian in 1936. After a year at Blinn Junior College, Otto received an offer to play in the Texas A&M band but instead joined his childhood friend, Boy Haskarl, at the University of Texas. His lifelong dream to be a doctor was realized when he was accepted to UT-Galveston Medical School. He graduated in 1942 and moved to Dallas to start his residency at St Paul's Hospital. There he met his "little red head" Bette Otto, a Registered Nurse. Their courtship was interrupted by his appointment the the United States Army as a First Lieutenant in the Medical Corp. After extensive training he was shipped to the Philippines where he was appointed captain in a MASH unit. Dad often talked of the difficult conditions and never ending rain and mud. If there was a highlight to his service it was when he gave General McArthurs wife a tour of the facility. After the war ended, Otto was shipped to Nagasaki Japan where he served in several hospitals. He returned to the states in the spring of 1946 to begin his long career in medicine. Otto and Bette were married in Dallas on January 14th and moved to a small apartment near the UT Austin campus. He opened his first office at 1506 Guadalupe and in 1968 moved to the newly constructed Medical Park Tower where he shared a waiting room with his close friend and hunting partner, Dr. James Graham. Otto's passion was being a family physician but his real love was delivering babies. Over his career he delivered thousands of babies including several family generations. After almost 50 years in practice, Otto retired in 1997. His children bore witness to his impact to this community time and time again. It was not unusual for dad to be approached by strangers to his family only to have them espouse their love for Dr. Brandt and how he had taken care of their entire family or delivered them or their children. Otto loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, playing tennis, hunting and was a passionate Longhorn fan. He was one of the original members of BEVO Medico and a member of the Forum Club, Journal Club, Westwood Country Club and a life member of the Texas Exes Association and the Travis County Medical Society. He is survived by his three children: Kathy Anderson and husband Sam of Houston, David Brandt and wife Karen of Houston, Chris Brandt and wife Jennifer of Austin; grandchildren Rob Anderson and wife Kristin; Lauren Britton and husband Chad, Chris and Becca Brandt of Houston and Will and Paige Brandt of Austin. The family would like to thank the staff of Visiting Angels and especially the loving care of Arlene Lantz. We would also like to thank Hortencia Trujillo for her loyalty and care and the nursing staff at Seton hospital for their service during dad's last days. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 25th at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Rd. In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Seton Fund, 1206 West 38th Street, Austin, TX 78705 or a charity of your choice.