Otis Pike ’43

Our class lost one of its most distinguished members when Ote died Jan. 11, 2014.

He came to Princeton from Riverhead (N.Y.) High School, where he was class president. As an undergraduate he majored in SPIA and was a member of the band for four years.

Ote left Princeton in June 1942 to become a Marine pilot, winning five Air Medals for his service. He returned to campus and graduated in 1946.

Ote was elected to the House of Representatives in 1960 and was regarded as an independent-minded maverick during his 18 years in Congress. He was credited with singlehandedly grounding a $14 million program that awarded extra pay for flight duty to generals and admirals who never piloted anything more aerodynamic than a desk at the Pentagon. Time described him as “the model of a properly pugnacious public servant — sharp-tongued and not easily intimidated.”

Survivors include his wife, Barbe; daughter Lois; son Douglas ’71; and two grandchildren.