Richard Otter

1933 - 2025

Richard Charles Otter (September 13, 1933 – October 25, 2025) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in his home in Hillsborough, California. Throughout his incredible 92 years, Dick was remarkable in his ability to forge new connections and lifelong friendships. Whether aboard the Tiburon Ferry exchanging stories with neighbors, sharing laughs around a domino table, meeting prospective clients in his office, or offering thoughtful counsel at a board meeting, Dick's warm smile and sparkling personality created genuine bonds with effortless ease, well into his ninth decade.
He was a 7th generation San Franciscan; tracing his ancestry to the late 18th century when his Spanish forbears came to California from Mexico. As his father was the manager of the Yosemite Lodge for decades, his childhood was split between Berkeley and the iconic Yosemite Valley. Spending his summers each year in the Valley, Dick developed lifelong bonds to every aspect of that amazing place. Those links led to his eventually serving as chairman of the Yosemite Fund (now Yosemite Conservancy). He also served as the chair of the Save-the-Redwood League and on the board for over 30 years – over which time he reviewed more than 200 acquisitions and 73,000 acres of California redwood forest. His connection to Yosemite also led to his serving as a founding member of the new University of California, Merced Foundation, the newest in the UC system founded in 2005.
Dick was a proud Cal Bear, enrolling in UC Berkeley after graduating from Berkeley High. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. After college, Dick served in the United States Marine Corps, flying helicopters in Asia between the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Professionally, Dick would proudly describe himself as "just a stockbroker." However, his modest description did not fully capture the role he played in creating and protecting wealth for his legions of loyal clients. He joined the famed San Francisco investment firm, Davis, Skaggs & Co. in 1960 and retired 65 years later after that firm eventually transformed itself into Morgan Stanley. He famously never changed jobs – just the company name on the business card was frequently updated. Dick's understanding of world markets was the product of lifelong curiosity and careful study of financial, economic, and political trends. He also shared his knowledge as an instructor of investments and economics at the College of Marin.
Dick's interest in world affairs led him to serve as the president of the Commonwealth Club in the mid 1980's. He was on the dais presiding over events when the then U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle made his famous remarks regarding the television show Murphy Brown. Dick later remarked that he was surprised the Vice President would reference a new Sonoma County winery - thinking Quayle was referring to Murphy-Goode.
Beyond his professional, community, and philanthropic accomplishments – Dick was most proud of his family, especially his two daughters Sibyl (David Kaufman) and Sandra (Carl Gerlach) and his grandchildren Nicolas (Amber Rose-Otter) and Anna. Dick passed on his love of the outdoors to his daughters, often taking them hiking through Yosemite Valley. Dick was married to Sibyl "Ann" (Wiper) Otter for 47 years until her passing in 2011. Dick was a steadfast supporter of Ann, who was an extremely active community leader, serving in elected office in their beloved Belvedere (CA) and steering many of the Bay Area's leading charitable and cultural organizations. When Ann served as Mayor of Belvedere, Dick would gleefully compare himself to Denis Thatcher, husband to U.K Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
After Ann's passing, Dick was truly blessed that love came into his life a second time when he met, fell in love, and married Judy Flood Wilbur. Together for 13 years, Judy and Dick built an amazing life filled with adventure, traveling the world and creating new memories. Dick was warmly welcomed into the entire Wilbur family and delighted in supporting Judy in her many wonderful community and business endeavors.
He was a member of San Francisco's Bohemian Club and Medicine Lodge Camp for over 60 years. Plus, later in life he enjoyed playing dominos at the Burlingame Club. He also was a longtime member of the Society of California Pioneers, California Historical Society, Book Club of California, and served on the board of the California State Railroad Museum. Plus, he was very proud of being an Eagle Scout!
Dick will be remembered by so many as a dear friend in San Francisco, Belvedere, Hillsborough, Sonoma, and around the world.
A memorial service will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Yosemite Conservancy (yosemite.org).