Richard "Dick" Harry Otto

Richard H. Otto of Chicago, passed away on July 4, 2026, after a short illness at his Chicago home. He was the devoted husband of Ione Otto. Leaving us on the Fourth of July was very appropriate as he always celebrated the Fourth with his own fireworks.

He was born on September 26, 1937, to his proud parents, Gordon and Myrtle Otto of Chicago. He is survived by his wife, Ione Otto of Chicago and Barrington, IL; his step-son Mark Gamrat of Barrington, IL; his sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Robert Ellsley of Westport, CT; his nephew Douglas Ellsley of Ketchum, ID; his niece, Rebecca Ellsley of Westport, CT.

Richard (Skip to early friends, Dick later in life, Richard to many business associates). An entrepreneur his entire life from selling bowling shirts, managing a mail order business, managing direct party plan sales to finally settling on education. For the last twenty years he was the owner and president of the prestigious American Academy of Art College in Chicago, a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree College. Its alumni has helped shape pop culture, comic books, commercial advertising, and fine art. Many exceptional artists have taught, trained, or graduated from the Academy including Haddon Sundblom, who created the red-cheeked, twinkling- eyed Santa Claus featured in Coca-Cola ads, Gil Elvgren’s idealized calendar pinups, Thomas Blackshear’s postage stamp portraits, Alex Ross’s Superman, Shawn Michael Warren’s Smithsonian-commissioned portrait of Oprah Winfrey to Anthony Kosar who is an Emmy nominated makeup FX artist who specializes in sculpture, creature FX, special FX makeup, and prosthetics.

As a teenager he was and still is the youngest bowler to compete in the All-Star meet in 1955 and continued his bowling accomplishments by bowling a perfect 300 game in 2018. In 1984 he was introduced to thoroughbred racing and established Richard Otto Stables, Inc. He became an accomplished owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses, largely based in Illinois. Many of his thoroughbreds achieved graded stakes status and honors both in Illinois and Kentucky, Iowa, and Maryland. His latest endeavor was to breed a thoroughbred colt that could possibly be a Kentucky Derby entry. A filly was born in Kentucky this year, 2026, and until his passing he was still considering breeding for the Derby in hopes of having a colt.

Dick Otto was a kind and giving man with gift for making others feel welcome and always looked forward to planning an event such as an anniversary and Christmas party. He truly felt a need to help others and many have been a recipient of his generosity.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 on Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

A graveside service and committal will take place at Acacia Park Cemetery, 7800 Irving Park Road, Norridge, IL 60706, on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 11:30 am. Please meet inside the gates of the cemetery by 11:15 am.