After earning a degree in engineering at Princeton and an MBA at Harvard, he joined Cincinnati Milling Machine Co. as a management trainee. His early interest in the then-new field of computer modeling led him to found a technical and management consulting firm, Optimax, specializing in advisory and technical services ranging from process design to finance, corporate strategy, and marketing.
Otto was a prominent member of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and, after retirement, president of the Cincinnati chapter of Volunteers of America. He also was a leader in other social service, business, and community organizations.
Otto died March 26, 2019, of pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elspeth; and their five children, daughters Pam O’Hara and Elspeth England and sons Paul, Roger ’87, and Hugh Geier.