Joan Averill Otte ’50
Born in Portland, Joan grew up in Jennings Lodge and Oregon City, Oregon. She attended Reed, before transferring to Oregon State University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree, followed by a bachelor of nursing degree from the University of Oregon Medical School. While at OSU, Joan met George Otte, and they were married in 1951. Their careers led them to The Dalles, Oregon, and Lanai City, Hawaii. Eventually they settled back in McMinnville, where they raised their three children. In 1976, Riitta, a Finnish exchange student, joined the family. The family moved to Casper, Wyoming, and when Joan and George retired, they returned to McMinnville, where they built their dream home.
一个
George passed away in 2000. Joan is survived by her children, Tom, Terry, and Nancy; her Finnish daughter, Riitta; and her brother, Jim.
Appeared in Reed magazine: June 2018
comments powered by
From the Archives: The Lives they Led
A Top Portland Lawyer and Trusted Reed Trustee
Trustee and Advocate for Equity and Unity
The Colorful “Citizen-Mayor” Invigorated Portland
Novelist Plots a Life of Adventures
![Photo of Prof. Marvin Levich [philosophy 1953–94]](/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/assets/images/2022/LTL-levich1.jpg)
Defender of the Citadel
![Photo of President Paul E. Bragdon [1971–88]](/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/assets/images/2020/Bragdon.jpg)
The President Who Led Reed through Crisis of the ’70s
![Photo of Prof. Edward Barton Segel [history 1973–2011]](/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/assets/images/2020/Segel.jpg)
Historian of the Big Questions
Chemist Probed the Architecture of the Infinitesimal
A Lady of Letters
Fear and Freedom in the Land of AIDS
Jurist Found Freedom in State Constitutions
Physicist Redefined Photography as Abstract Art Form.
Saw Land as a Resource, Not a Commodity
A Force Behind Advertising and Asian Art
Blacklisted During McCarthy Era, Photojournalist Covered Turbulent ’60s
Chow Bella
Innovative Dancer Defied Gravity
Architect of the Clean Air Act
Minimalist on Maximum Overdrive
Influential Psychologist Overturned Assumptions About Men and Women
Hell on Wheels
Prosecuted the Klan in Landmark Case
The Butterfly Effect
Physicist, Educator, Founder of Pi Day
The Fish Missionary
High Flyer Broke Records—and Barriers
Slain defending teenager from hatred.
Influential Professor, Jazz Musician.
Statistician Who Defied The Odds.
Philosopher of the Air
Taught a Generation How to Look at Art
Authored Elegant Thrillers
Saw Death Camp Twice: As Prisoner and as Liberator
Master of the sucker-punch sentence
AIDS Researcher, Gay-Rights Pioneer
The Architect of Zoloft
Sorted the "good" cholesterol from the bad
Journalist, activist, witness to history
Investigative journalist won Pulitzer prize
Green Pioneer Smashed the Glass Microscope
Cartographer of the Brain
Radical lawyer fought for prison reform—and paid with her life
Literary Scholar, Dedicated Teacher
Visionary Technologist, Prodigal Son.
Mathematical physicist hunted giant prime numbers.
Electrifying economist investigated the economics of air pollution.
The Literary Sorcerer
Zen priest, beat poet
Photojournalist captured flames and the spirit of firefighters
The "Godfather of Old Town" revitalized Portland's inner city
Particle physicist stopped bulldozers from razing Hidden Peak
"Unorthodox" dean, inspiring correspondent
From wartime welder to molecular biologist.
Cardiac pioneer was on the scene of every heart attack in Juneau for 14 years
Michigan congressman led fight for sanctions against South Africa
Poet of Ordinary Mysteries
Leading political scientist survived Nazi prison.
Anthropologist revolutionized field of sociolinguistics
Author, filmmaker, anthropologist
The Henry Ford of higher ed.
Rocket scientist and sailboat designer
California preservationist
Historian of towering stature
Helped Troops Escape Nazis, Captured Vital SS Files.
Beloved dean played key role in the life of Steve Jobs.
Nuclear physicist who influenced space exploration
Pioneer in computer animation
Anthropologist, linguist, ethnobotanist
First Native American student at Reed served as teacher and social worker
“Father of Shaw Island”
Chemist helped develop polio vaccine
Intelligence officer did fieldwork for OSS and CIA
Author, translator, and artist
Inventor Played Key Role in the Electronic Revolution
Influential historian of the Pacific Northwest
Visionary designer colored outside the lines.
Her translation turned Sappho into a modernist icon
Pioneering Environmentalist Fought for Arctic Refuge
Brilliant surgeon, tragic accident
Kinetic Sculptor
威博体育