Carolyn Hardenbergh Otto

June 11, 1942 - April 27, 2022

After a long, valiant cancer battle, Carolyn is survived by two children, Julie and Tom Jr, and four grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Tom Otto '60 in 2017.

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Carolyn Blanche Hardenbergh Otto passed away peacefully at her home in La Canada, just as she had planned. She valued family, friendship, and her community, and stayed close to home her entire life. Born in Glendale to Dorothy (Warren) and Karl Hardenbergh, she was raised in South Pasadena. Tootie, as she was called, attended South Pasadena schools, where she made life-long friends and met her husband, Tom, as a junior, which started a romance that lasted just about 60 years. After graduating SPHS, Carolyn attended Pasadena City College, where she earned her AA. She became a dental hygienist and worked for 10 years before retiring to raise her family.

Carolyn was an active volunteer and worked hard for a wide variety of causes:  Pasadena Day Nursery, Oak Grove School PTA, Assistance League of Flintridge, Los Angeles Olympic Committee, American Red Cross Board, and the Pasadena Garden Club. She was a hard worker, organized, and creative. She shared these gifts with all that she did and with the people she knew and cared about. At all of these organizations she made life-long friends.

Carolyn was good at so many things. She loved to cook - always trying new recipes. She worked hard in her garden, planting and tending a variety of specimen. She even helped install sprinklers in her front yard! She could wrap a gift that looked like a present itself. Her grandchildren will attest that she bought the most thoughtful gifts, splurging just enough. She loved to play bridge and played weekly with the same group of ladies for years. She was busy, organized, and efficient. She knew the importance of celebrating people and events - she knew how to make people feel special. She lived life to the fullest and enjoyed her life. Her greatest strength was her determination. She valiantly fought her cancer for more than ten years. She put her body through tough tests and came out on top. This was an incredible gift to her family and friends, and mostly her grandchildren. She outlived everyone's expectations and predictions.

Carolyn is predeceased by her husband, Tom Otto '60. She is survived by her children, Tom Jr (Ruthie) and Julie Otto Miller and her four grandchildren.

Pasadena Star-News, May 29, 2022