PUCKY HUDDLE ROAD — A lady of style, great passion and one of Sullivan County’s greatest allies, passed away on Sunday morning following a courageous battle with cancer.

Forever remembered for her deep devotion to any cause she signed up for, Susan Brown Otto was known far and wide as a champion of youth, the Republican Party, anything Kenoza Lake and her beloved wildlife, among her many interests.

Her and her husband, Ray Otto, lived on Pucky Huddle Road in Bethel, a place which Susan held close to her heart.

Carl Lindsley, a close family friend, said, “Susan was very involved in many organizations and was very emotional in her work.”

Lindsley, a former DEC Biologist, recalled how he got to know Susan and her husband Ray when he was trapping turkeys on their property for a study.

“We became friends and our friendship just grew and grew,” he said. 

Susan always documented Ray and Carl’s many trips into the field in search of the wild turkey and would send the photos into the Sullivan County Democrat if they bagged a turkey.

“She loved taking photos and putting them in the paper,” Lindsley said.

Carl and his wife, Patty, and Susan and Ray would spend time together frequently.

“There’s a destiny for all of us,” Lindsley said. “It’s just so unfortunate that Susan’s sickness was so rampant in her body.”

Former Republican Party Chair Greg Goldstein said Susan’s role as Secretary of the organization took on a whole new meaning.

“Susan was looking at how to better the Sullivan County Republican Party,” Goldstein remembered. “She was a very bright lady who always had ideas on how to improve the Republican Party.

“And she was a worker,” Goldstein said. “She would put out and pick up signs and whatever else we needed.”

Goldstein remembered Susan calling him about her race for Bethel Tax Collector in November.

“I told her, ‘Susan you are going to win, you’re unopposed,’” Goldstein laughed. “But she never took anything for granted.”

Indeed, Susan did win re-election for Bethel Tax Collector, a position which she took great pride in.

One of Susan’s colleagues at the Town of Bethel was long-time Town Clerk Rita Sheehan.

“Susan was a great story teller, lover of all things nature, and a gentlewoman who loved to wear her French Beret hats,” Sheehan said.  “Our office won’t be the same without her and she will be dearly missed.”

Town of Bethel Supervisor Dan Sturm said, “The passing of Susan is a great loss to the town, and we are all grieving and praying for her and her family. She was unique, well liked and hard working. Whether as our Tax Collector, or her long tenure as a Planning Board member she always spoke her mind, and she will be sincerely missed by all.”

Susan also wrote a column for her local newspaper, the Sullivan County Democrat, called Kenoza Lake News.

Democrat Editor Isabel Braverman said, “I only started in the Editor role in July, but very quickly Susan made me feel welcomed and we established a rapport where she would send me story ideas. It’s clear that she cared deeply about her community, and the paper will be missing her voice.”

Please see full obituary, page 2B.