Oettinger, Roy
OT 603 - West
Date of Death: 02/05/2019
Roy Oettinger passed away on 2 May 2019 following a short illness.
Eulogy by Peter Jones and John Furlonger
Roy Oettinger passed away on 2 May 2019 following a short illness.
He was the son of Arthur A Oettinger, who taught Woodwork, Metalwork and Technical Drawing at Ottershaw School from the opening of the School in September 1948 until he retired in July 1979. After attending St Pauls CE School, Addlestone, he became a pupil at Ottershaw School (OT 603) on 11 January 1960 and left on 25 July 1964. In his final year he was head of West House and therefore within a short walking distance of his parents’ home. Having gained a Teaching Diploma at Shoreditch College, he returned to the school in September 1972 as a master, teaching Design and Technology, following in the footsteps of his father, Arthur, one of the first masters of the School who also taught craft skills and was the Housemaster of North House. For some years, while on the staff, Roy was Secretary of OSOBS. He remained at the School until its closure.
In 1979 Roy joined the staff of Gordon’s School in Woking, where he taught the same subjects. He progressed to Housemaster and then to Deputy Headmaster, in which position he served for 10 years before he retired in 2010. It is clear that many aspects of everyday life at Ottershaw School were passed on to Gordon’s School pupils.
In 2013 he had major heart surgery, after which he made good progress, being able to go away on holidays and otherwise enjoy himself. However, around the beginning of April this year his heart condition started slowly to deteriorate, although he was at home and comfortable. It all happened quite unexpectedly. His widow, Ilse, has very fond memories of Ottershaw School as it is where she met Roy in 1973/74, when she was the German Language Assistant there.
Roy’s funeral was held on Friday 31 May in the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor at Gordon’s School, followed by a wake. It was attended by many family members and friends. The service began with an organ solo of Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations and was concluded with Time To Say Goodbye from a recording by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. Respected, admired and loved by many, Roy will be sorely missed.
Ottershaw Old Boys Society members attending the service included Peter Jones, John Young, David Pocock, Trevor Olney, John Softly, Paul Lewis and Marian McEwan.
Eulogy by Nick, Roy’s nephew.
My Uncle Mick, or as most of you know him, Roy, was a dear and kind hearted, generous man. He is dearly loved by his family; his wife Ilse, his brother David, his sister in law Lois, his Mother in Law Erica, his nephews Marc and I and his 4 great nephews and nieces Madison Emily Oliver and Harry.
Uncle Mick was the second child of Granddad Arthur and Nana Pat and was born in 1946. He grew up in idyllic surroundings at a house called Tanglewood in Ottershaw Park. Uncle Mick had a wonderful childhood in Ottershaw Park, and in the beautiful surroundings he got into many scrapes and adventures with his brother David, as young boys do.
He also attended Ottershaw School where granddad was house master of North House and this is where he found his love for school and teaching. In his younger years he was a keen sportsman loving athletics and became an official starter in his 20s. He then joined Ottershaw as a teacher in 1972 and involved himself in all aspects of school life. He loved teaching. He disliked doing timetables but he loved teaching.
Uncle Mick, Roy, met the other love of his life, Ilse, at Ottershaw School where she was a German Language Assistant. He was so enamoured with her he drove his old 2 seater sports car all the way to Germany just to visit. Together they have lived a full and wonderful life for over 40 years with fabulous holidays, School events and even a garden party at the palace.
Uncle Mick moved to Gordon Boys School after Ottershaw closed and continued his career where he excelled as a teacher for 31 years becoming Deputy Headmaster. My uncle was also like an uncle to countless children and young people and had a positive impact on them throughout his career that he will fondly be remembered for. Uncle Mick’s proudest moments were in school; however, he was happiest with his family and close friends whom I know he loved very dearly and as we can all see here today loved him too.
He has always enjoyed IT and spent many hours working on computers, whether his own or solving others’ issues and later found a love for clocks. It was with some irony that his favourite poem was “ Stop All The Clocks” by WH Auden, as without anyone else knowing how to wind up his collection, they will.
We were all shocked and very sad when Uncle Mick passed but I know he would have loved to see all of you here today to celebrate his life and to show your love and support for his wife Ilse and his brother David and on behalf of the family I would like to thank you all for coming here. We will miss you, but we have very fond memories of the times we have spent together and are grateful for the time that we have had with you. God Bless and I know that you are in a better place and will watch over us.
Eulogy by David Morrison, a friend and neighbour
I have been asked by Ilse to speak to you about Roy, my friend and neighbour.
I saw him as a quiet and fairly private person who kept his own council but was ALWAYS there to give helpful advice and guidance when asked for it (admired by me who will give mine even when NOT asked). He was a man who could be relied on to keep a confidence; this was often needed by my two children (especially my daughter) who both saw Roy as ‘Sir’ at school, but a surrogate uncle at home.
I well remember my early days here at Gordons as a Governor seeking advice on schooling matters, an area of course where he had vast experience. I know too that his mentoring skills were of great benefit to new teachers and especially Lydia when she was first here as Co-Deputy Head. His knowledge of the complexities of the computing world was second to none (quite beyond me). Roy would calmly sort out problems, either the complicated school timetable, or helping my wife or my ‘other side’ neighbour Phillip before they threw their lap tops in the rubbish bin! Who my wife will turn to now when she needs to recover 500 cat pictures I don’t know!
He will be missed by Phillip and I as a member of the ‘Aging Three Amigos’ (as my daughter calls us) when we would regularly visit our local for a couple of beers and dinner and a chance to sort out the world’s ails. Phillip and I would wade through the menu, but not Roy, his scientific analytical mind had already decided He was having what he always had –prawn cocktail, rare steak and NO sauce!! Phillip and I could have ordered for him.
As you go through life you meet many people, some you can count on and many you can’t: Roy was one you always could count on. It is not how long you have known someone that counts, but it is the quality of that time. For me it was a great pleasure to have known him and have him as my neighbour and friend.