Ted Otto, age 99, of Laguna Woods, California, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2026. His long and remarkable life spanned continents, languages, and eras of profound change, yet through it all he carried an active spirit, a generous heart, and a deep devotion to his family and faith.

Early Life and War Years

Ted was born on September 18, 1927, in Częstochowa, Poland, to Maria Krawczyńska Otto and Ludwik Otto, the youngest of eleven children. He grew up within earshot of the bells of Jasna Góra, the revered shrine of Our Lady of the Bright Mount—Poland’s most cherished holy place. His parents owned a store just down the street, sustained by the steady flow of pilgrims.

World War II shattered that life. The family store was lost, and when Ted was nine, his father passed away. His mother, Maria, was arrested for smuggling anti‑Nazi leaflets and sent to Auschwitz and Ravensbrück, enduring unimaginable suffering before being released in a prisoner exchange as one of the camps’ oldest survivors.

Ted himself was sent to a forced labor camp and marked for execution. By what he described as Divine Providence, he escaped and joined the Polish Underground (Partisans), fighting with honor and integrity. His path out of occupied Poland was grueling—mostly days walking through snowy forests, often without food, sometimes hitching a ride between train cars. He eventually reached Italy, where he joined the Polish Army under American command.

After the war, Ted remained committed to the cause of freedom. In the United States, he participated in Polish Solidarity marches in Los Angeles and helped many Poles immigrate during the Iron Curtain era.

A New Life and a Love Story

At age 26, Ted met Suzanne at a dance at the Polish Club in England. Suzanne found him humorous, intelligent, articulate, well‑behaved, serious, upright, and charming. After two years of courtship, Ted proposed with a dream: “We should get married and go to America, the land of dreams, the only place worthy of living and raising a family.”

They married on December 27, 1954, at the beautiful Brompton Oratory Church in London and traveled to the United States for their honeymoon.

Upon arriving in America, Ted attended evening classes to become a draftsman and later a mechanical design engineer, contributing to the development of high‑tech storage devices.

Family, Community, and Passions

Ted and Suzanne raised two children, Mark and Christine, and were deeply involved in the Polish community and church. Ted loved the outdoors, travel, and above all, soccer.

Family adventures took them across Europe, Mexico, and the High Sierra—camping in Yosemite, Wawona, and Hume Lake. Summers often meant weekends at Venice Beach, where Polish families gathered to swim, relax, and talk. Ted loved playing soccer barefoot on a grass field by the beach, showing remarkable footwork, and then cooling off with his signature “dive” into the waves—really a bellyflop, though he insisted it never hurt.

Ted volunteered extensively, leading the annual Polish camp in the San Bernardino Mountains and also the Krakusy Polish dance ensemble at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church in Los Angeles. The youth were drawn towards him for his charisma, kindness, and generosity. It was common for Ted to randomly slip a few dollars to kids at camp, on soccer fields, or even while they waited in line at the ice cream truck.

Faith and Legacy

A devout Catholic, Ted’s favorite moment in Mass was hearing “Ave Maria” sung beautifully. The hymn brought back memories of his youth at Jasna Góra and sometimes moved him to tears.

Ted will be remembered as a man of noble qualities—a devoted husband, father, and grandfather to Brian, Michelle, Michael, and Kristyna. He lived with courage, conviction, and a boundless generosity that touched everyone around him.

His spirit, his activism for freedom, and his unwavering kindness will remain forever in the hearts of those who knew him.

Service Information

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, November 13th at 11:00 a.m. A committal service will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest, California. A private gathering for family and close friends will be held afterward at U Babci Polish Restaurant in Lake Forest.