Lorrence (Larry) James Otter

Larry was born on May 27, 1930 in Berkeley, California to James and Ruth Otter. His dad was an itinerant minister and Larry’s childhood was spent moving from small town to small town in Idaho and Washington.

Larry attended Tracy High School for three years, but graduated from Chaffee High School in Ontario, California in 1948, then enrolled at Chaffee Junior College. In 1950, Larry moved to San Jose to attend San Jose State College Police School, where he met his future bride, Beverly Clift. They married in June 1952. Larry worked as a patrolman for the San Jose police department, and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Criminal Justice.

In May 1954, Larry and Bev moved to Augusta, Georgia where Larry served as an MP in the U.S. Army. Their son Marshall was born there. In 1956, they returned to San Jose and Larry resumed his career on the San Jose police force. Daughter Jenny was born in 1957, the same year they bought a home in Saratoga, where they lived for the rest of their lives.

In July 1961, Larry passed the sergeants exam and moved to the detective division. Daughter Amy arrived in 1962 and the family was complete! Larry continued to move up the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in 1970, and a captain in 1973. He moved to the records division in 1976, and then commanded the traffic division from 1979 until his retirement from the San Jose Police Department in 1985. During this time, he went back to school and graduated from San Francisco University earning a Master’s degree in Public Service in 1982. Larry was highly respected by his colleagues in the police department. After retiring, Larry obtained a private detective’s license and worked investigating insurance claims, and later worked in internal investigations at Lockheed. In January 1996, Larry retired for good.

Larry was active in the community outside of work. He refereed high school football games and umpired high school and Police Athletic League baseball games. He was a long-time member of the San Jose Host Lions Club, serving as president in 1979; he was a founding member of the San Jose Scales of Justice Lions Club. He loved classic cars and judged many Concours d’Elegance events all over the Bay Area for most of his post-retirement life.

Larry worked hard all his life and was remarkably healthy, in his later years walking almost daily around the neighborhood with his devoted caregivers. He deeply loved Bev - they had been married for 65 years when she passed in November 2017. He will be missed, but he had a long life and is no doubt happy to be with Bev again!

Larry was predeceased by his parents, his younger brother, Edward, and his sisters-in-law Paula, and Marilyn Miller. He is survived by his son Marshall (Jenny Hops), daughters Jenny (Steve Weingarten) and Amy (Ron Sgarlato), granddaughters Rachelle Sgarlato, Haley Totten (Jack Marshall), Katrina Totten, Sarah Pierini (Brian), grandsons Zane and Troy, great-grandsons Giovanni and Campbell, and great-granddaughter Kylah. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Guy Miller, nephews Mike Otter, Rob Miller (Catherine Dion), Tim Miller (Lara Magnusdottir), nieces Diane Bell and Meg Thomas (Jeff) and several great nieces and nephews. He also leaves his feline and most fervent companions, Brandy and Bourbon.

A memorial service will be held at 11a.m. on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at Lima Family Erickson Memorial Chapel at 710 Willow Street in San Jose. In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s name would be welcomed by the San Jose Scales of Justice Lions Club.