Ottar Ole Rohrstaff passed away at his home on August 22, 2020, surrounded by his family.
He was born on September 8, 1937 in Manistee, Michigan to Ottar and Lila (Guenther) Rohrstaff. And so began a man’s love of being on the water. His first sailboat ride was when, as a baby, his parents took him out on Lake Michigan (Manistee is on the east coast of Lake Michigan). He must have loved that experience, because being on the water always was a good day from then on. He was at home on any body of water (lake, ocean, bay or river) and was always eager to share a day on the water with anyone willing to go along. As a young man, he was part of a group of like-minded folks who raced catamarans on the Severn River. Ottar’s job was to climb to the top of the mast and lean out as far as he could to help lift one of the hulls out of the water to increase the speed of the catamaran.
Ottar grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (a small city on Lake Michigan directly across from Manistee), where he had easy access to water. But being on the water was not all that caught his interest. As a teenager, he was not one to sit around the house, so he rode his bike to the local airfield and talked a pilot into teaching him how to fly (in exchange for doing odd jobs). He was 16 years old – not old enough to get a driver’s license. He joined the Civil Air Patrol.
After high school, Ottar was in the US Air Force Reserve (1954-58), followed by active duty in the US Army (1958-60) (where he happily was stationed in Hawaii). He entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison twice and received degrees in mechanical engineering (1964) and business administration (1967).
In 1983, Ottar and Sandra Blanchette were married on a knoll overlooking the Potomac River where they could watch sailboats go by as they exchanged their vows. Ottar married into a family with a 6-year-old girl, Janelle, and an 8-year-old boy, Michael, both of whom participated in the wedding. Ottar taught Sandra’s children that dessert comes first. And he always had candy in his pockets for the kids. He introduced them all to the joy of sailing, and he took the kids sailing on the Potomac River any chance he got.
Ottar devoted his career to civil service. At the time of his death, Ottar was a General Engineer at the Naval Sea Systems Command, Cost Engineering and Industrial Analysis Group. As a cost estimator at NAVSEA, over the course of his career developed cost estimates for numerous ship acquisition programs, participated in source selections for major shipbuilding programs, and conducted shipbuilding industrial base analysis. He also managed NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office efforts in maintaining the Naval Vessel Register (the official register of all US Navy vessels) and most recently supported operating and support cost estimating across all Navy ship programs. While at NAVSEA he received numerous Special Act Awards for his performance both as an individual and on teams. The Naval Sea Systems Command was recognized in July 2013 with a Meritorious Unit Commendation by the Chief of Naval Operations for the performance of its employees in making significant improvements in performance of the shipbuilding industrial base and execution of maintenance and modernization in private shipyards. Ottar was recognized by both the Secretary of the Navy and the Commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command in 2018 for fifty years of service to the Government of the United States as both a civilian and active duty military.
Water continued to play a major role in Ottar’s life in another way. In 1983, he and the family moved to Tauxemont, an historic neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia, that has no sidewalks or streetlights, and houses sit on large wooded lots. Tauxemont is unique in another important way. It is blessed with having as its source of water pure delicious well water from wells deep in the earth. Ottar eagerly joined the neighborhood water committee and eventually became the administrator of the system, responsible for keeping the wells running and reporting water purity test and usage data to government authorities. He could often be seen walking around the neighborhood between the well sites with various pieces of equipment in his hand and always had handy a notepad and pencil on which he drew diagrams that meant something important to his engineer brain.
Ottar is survived by his wife of 37 years Sandra, stepchildren Michael Blanchette (wife Angelica) and Janelle Blanchette, two step-grandchildren who he adored, his sister Patricia Juers, and loving family members.
A virtual memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.
Dear Sandra, Michael, & Janelle,
I was so sorry to hear of Ottar’s passing and so sorry now that these condolences are so delayed. Unfortunately, I have achieved the status in my family of being the “the last to know.”
Perhaps this was for the best though because this time of year when you are trying to get through that first Christmas without your loved one is very difficult and to know you have a former neighbor walking that similar path , since we lost grandma in July, hopefully brings a measure of comfort. I would put your family in my top 10 of people I’ve known in my life to be SO compassionate and kind.
We have not had as great of neighbors as you all since we moved away. I will be eternally to grateful for having the privilege of knowing Ottar, learning about and sharing some “grog” with him!
I will raise a glass in the New Year to toast such a wonderful, well lived person such as Ottar!
Thanks for being the BEST neighbors ever! And once again SO sorry for your loss! Peace be with you🙏🕯🥂
Sandra, Janelle, and Michael. We are so sorry to hear of your loss. We intended to attend the memorial service and simply forgot! We looked forward to celebrating Ottar’s life and death, even from afar on Zoom. We remember that beautiful wedding day at Ottar’s cottage. I’m certain that becoming a husband and father was challenging as well as so fulfilling.
We remember Ottar’s quiet dedication to the life and ministry at Mount Vernon UMC. His life story provided other dimensions to the quiet personality that we knew.
We wish you the best as you enter another chapter of life’s journey. Peace, Les and Jo
Sandra, Janelle, Michael and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Ottar was a joy to work with at MVUMC. His gentle and kind service and guidance has been a blessing for our church family over the years. We pray for comfort for you as you celebrate his life.
Dear Sandra and family,
Please accept our deepest sympathies. We are grateful for having the opportunity of knowing Ottar. and In this time of grief all of you are in our thoughts and in our prayers.
Sandra & Family,
We were so sorry to hear this news. As Tauxemont’s Business Agents for over twenty years we had so many occasions to speak with Ottar regarding water system questions that we could not answer when neighbors called. He always patiently answered any and all questions put to him. Our only complaint in all those years was that Ottar would rarely take compensation for items purchased for our community water system. A true gentleman and an outstanding civic association volunteer, he will be greatly missed by all Tauxemonters.
I am so sorry to hear of Ottar’s passing. My first job out of college had me working side by side with him. I learned so much from Ottar! How to be an analyst! How to work smartly. How to deal with people. How to deal with the politics and some weird decisions by others. My personal and professional growth were influenced by Ottar! I have remembered him throughout my 30 + years and will always remember him! May all of you keep the good memories alive! Very Respectfully, Doug Monin
So sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort in your many wonderful memories.
Sandra, thank you for sharing Otters life story with us. I am going to miss my counting partner of over 20 years and thank you so much for letting ne to step in when you retired from being his counting partner. Sandra, you are in my thoughts and prayer and you are a dear friend.
Sharon Shirley
Sandra, I am so sorry for your loss, but happy for the life your husband lived and the love he shared with you. Wishing you comfort and peace.
Sandra, Janelle, Michael, Ange, Malynn and Jack.
We wish you the warmth and comfort of the many memories of your wonderful Ottar.
Beloved by all of you, please take comfort in the joy you shared and the many ways he has loved each of you.
As your neighbors and friends, we send our sympathies for this incredible loss of this wonderful man and also his dog Rusty
who proceeded him in Heaven. With much love to all of you from Jonathan, Michele, Devon and Amanda.
My Deepest Condolence!! I really enjoyed taking care of Ottar! Having great talks!! He always have such a great Attitude! About Life!!!
Sandra, Michael, and Janelle – I am so saddened by the news of Ottar’s passing. I wish you all love and many, many happy memories of your time together. My most vivid memory of Ottar was when he and Sandra came to one of Scott’s baseball games in Alexandria (maybe 8/9 years ago). He was always showed a genuine interest in what we were doing and how the kids were. He was a treasure! May he rest in peace.
Ottar was a wonderful, kind man, and he loved being part of a family. We shared his love of the sea and sailing and so enjoyed getting together with both of you. Wished we had had more time together.
Lots of love and prayers your way!
Sandra-So sorry for your loss. Always enjoyed spending time with Ottar, as he was interesting, sincere, and had an easy and warm smile. I hope in time you will find comfort in your many warm and fond memories. Love Tom.
Visits were to few but most memorable. Treasure the time spent at his ‘bachelor’s pad on the Potomac shortly after ya’lls wedding. Kisses and hugs to all. Rick
Ottar was such an interesting guy, a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather..so kind and sweet. Everyone will miss him. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Kathy
Our times together were to few but will always be memorable. Treasure the memory of staying in his ‘bachelor’s pad along the Potomac with my little family shortly after ya’lls wedding. Kisses and hugs to all.
Sandra, my heart is with you and family. My prayers will be for peace and comfort for you all.
We hope the wonderful memories you have will help to heal the sorrow in your heart.
Love that picture of Ottar! Land and sea have lost a brilliant mind, a steadfast caretaker, and a gentle soul. Thank you for the beautifully shared story of Ottar’s life.Our love and deepest sympathy to you loved ones who loved him so!
My Dear Sandra, we were so saddened to learn of Ottar’s passing. He was a kind and gentle man, and brilliant, of course. I wish we lived closer so that I could hug you and sit with you and Janelle and Michael to share stories. May he Rest In Peace.
Sandra,
I hope your memories of the many years of happiness you shared with Ottar will comfort you in the wake of your loss.
Janelle,
I’m so sorry to hear about your stepfather’s death. He had such a wonderful life! Wishing you comfort in memories of him.
Jo Marshall