The community lost a tireless advocate and volunteer last week with the passing of Linda Ottho.
She had been battling cancer and received good news from her oncologist in early December. However, things took a turn for the worse over the holidays and she developed an infection. Ottho died in the early morning hours of Jan. 8. She had just celebrated her 63rd birthday on Christmas Eve.
Born and raised on a farm in the Mansfield area of Ontario, about an hour north of Toronto, Ottho headed west and was living in Tsawwassem in the early 1970s when she met husband Ulf Ottho.
“I literally married the girl next door,” he said, adding that she was living in the neighbouring house when he moved into a house in Tsawwassen.
Married for 34 years, the couple has two sons, Aaron and Bryan.
Ottho worked for many years as office manager for Ulf’s law practice at Delta Law Office and began taking on more volunteering roles after his appointment to the National Parole Board.
A tireless volunteer, Ottho is being remembered by many for her contributions to the community.
She was actively involved with the Ladner Rotary Club for the past decade, serving as president in 2011. Most recently, she served as the club’s program officer, lining up weekly speakers.
“She was brilliant at it,” said president Patricia Sibley, adding that the speaker is the biggest part of the meeting.
Sibley said that the club will keenly feel Ottho’s loss.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without her,” she said.
Ottho was twice recognized for her contributions to Rotary, receiving two Paul Harris Fellow awards. The award is the highest honour a club can bestow on a person. The club president chooses recipients and current Ladner Rotary Club Sibley decided to present the award to Ottho at the club’s Dec. 9 meeting.
She said the award, which was presented by past district governor Michael Cruise, was a complete surprise to Ottho.
“It was a very, very heartfelt touching moment,” she said. “It was perfect.”
She was involved in many Rotary initiatives.
Sibley said she was instrumental in establishing the Interact Club at Delta Secondary School, which received its charter in the fall of 2012.
Interact is Rotary International's service club for people ages 12 to 18.
Interact clubs are sponsored by Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.
Ottho was also heavily involved in Rotary’s annual fundraising calendar. A joint effort between the two South Delta Rotary clubs, the calendar features photographs of local scenes.
Ottho worked to help organize the production of the calendars, collecting and vetting photos and lining up sponsors.
“That was Linda’s main forte with the club,” Ulf said, adding the calendars raise thousands of dollars for the clubs every year.
Ottho was also devoted her time to other local organizations.
In 2013 she joined the Reach Child and Youth Development Society board of directors and was the chair of the Building for Children Together in-kind fund building committee.
The society, which provides services to children and youth with special needs, is currently aiming to raise $4 million to build a new community-based centre in the heart of Ladner.
She was also a director with the Delta Community Foundation, working to not only fundraise and bring in donations but to allocate the money where needed and acted as secretary.
In recent years, Ottho also advocated in favour of Century Group’s proposal for the Southlands development, which was ultimately approved last year. At the public hearing on the development in 2013 she presented to council a petition in favour of the proposal.
In addition to her husband and two sons, Ottho is survived by her two sisters and one brother, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. at Cedar Park Church in Ladner.
The lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation, Reach Child and Youth Development Society or the Delta Hospital Foundation.
