JAMES S. OTTENBERG

OTTENBERG--James S. Died peacefully on April 9 in Manhattan. Born February 28, 1918, this lifelong New Yorker attended Horace Mann and Lincoln, obtained a BA from Swarthmore College (1939), a JD from Harvard Law School (1942), and an MPA from NYU (1963). A World War II Air Force veteran, Jim served in the European theatre. He practiced law, but politics and public service were his passion. He worked in the New York City government at Marine and Aviation and as Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health. He became Director of the Child Study Association, and for 20 years an administrator in the psychiatric department of Bronx Lebanon Hospital. An ardent Democrat, Jim participated in many campaigns, including the Stevenson and Kennedy Presidential runs. He co-authored The Lexington Democratic Story and You, Your Child and Drugs. In his 80s and 90s, Jim served on the Auxiliary Board of Metropolitan Hospital. An avid jogger, devoted Broadway and swing jazz fan, he suffered and gloried in the football Giants. But most of all, this remarkable man was the beloved husband of Margaret Davies for 70 years; father of Jeffrey, Susan, Betsy Cherkasky, and Jill Muscat; grandfather ("Papa Jim") of Eli, Ethan and Dinah Cherkasky, Susannah Cherkasky Heyworth, Neil and Timothy Muscat; great-grandfather of Cecilia and Philippa Heyworth; father-in-law of Michael Cherkasky and Josh Muscat, and grandfather-in-law of James Heyworth and Lyndsea Cochrane Cherkasky. A Memorial Service will be held at the John J. Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont on Sunday, May 15 at 11:00am.