Ottmar Hubert Dengel passed away peacefully at his beloved home, Four Winds, on Monday, December 2, 2024.
He was born on September 14, 1933 in Kempten, Allgaeu Germany, where he grew up with his three siblings, and attended the Humanistisches Gymnasium in Kempten, graduating in 1952. During the tumultuous time at the end of WWII he worked as a local farm hand until schools opened again in late 1945. He studied Physics at the Technical University of Munich where he obtained the academic degree of Diplom-Ingeniuer in 1958. He then embarked on a PhD program at the Laboratorium fuer Technische Physik and was awarded his Doctorate in Physics in 1962.
He was fortunate to meet his future wife Gisela Harder, MD in Munich when she was in need of his engineering expertise to fix her scooter. They were married at Andernach, Germany on June 1, 1962. After three years working as a research fellow at the Laboratorium fuer Technische Physik, he and his wife Gisela came to the United States in 1965 where he served as a Research Physicist with the United States Navy. He worked at the Naval Surface Warfare Center first in Indian Head, Maryland and then in White Oak, Maryland for 28 years in various research and management positions. He specialized in hydrogen generators, in regards to which he received 12 patents, as well as underwater explosives. Following his retirement in 1994 from the Navy he founded Royal Systems, a consulting company that focused on building partnerships between the US, German and other NATO naval research centers, which he operated until his final retirement in 2004.
His beloved wife Gisela passed away in 2002. They had moved to Front Royal, Virginia in 1972 where she opened a Pediatrics Office on Browntown Road and where they raised their sons Tobias and Florian. Ottmar had a deep passion for travel, including taking his whole family around the world and to every continent except Antarctica. Having grown up in war time, he felt it critically important to expose his family to other cultures to promote common human understanding and tolerance. Friendships were very important to him and he remained deeply involved with his fraternity, the Algovia, throughout his entire life. He had a special love of music, dancing and festivals and could regularly be found at small town Bavarian events, the Oktoberfest, acoustic bluegrass nights in Browntown, the Kennedy Center, as well as Carnivals and dances throughout the world including Rio, Buenos Aires, Cologne and Sevilla.
Ottmar is survived by his two sons Tobias and Florian, their wives Lynn and Lindsey, and six grandchildren that were the delight of his later years as “Opa”, Alexander, Lucas, Karolina, Willem, Max and Anna.
A true celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Reitano Winery in Front Royal and in July 2025 in Kempten, Germany. In lieu of flowers, Ottmar has requested everyone to have a dance in his honor.
Very sad to hear the news, Ottmar will be missed. I always enjoyed talking with him. A very dear friend of my father and myself. RIP
Ottmar was such a a warm and welcoming man. Throughout college, the Dengels always had an open door to many fun times (like Gold Cup)! My heart is heavy and sad for Florian and Tobias and their families. Sending love and prayers and healing strength! He was an incredible man! 💜
The Hillaert family absolutely loved Ottmar! We rented a beautiful home from him for 7 years and built a relationship that has lasted since. We will miss caroling and singing German Christmas songs and cozying around his kitchen table for a nice long chat. He always had a smile and a hug ready for us. I’m so saddened by his loss and very grateful to have known him.
Wir haben Ottmar, den Mann von Eckards Cousine Gisela, als einen sehr klugen, nachdenklichen und humorvollen Mann erlebt. Er liebte es, große Feste zu feiern und zu tanzen. Wir hatten das Glück, ihn in seiner Lebendigkeit anlässlich seines 90. Geburtstags in Kempten zu sehen. Wir freuen uns, dass wir im Juli 2025 in Kempten noch einmal Abschied von ihm nehmen können. Wir sind dankbar, ihn in seiner Offenheit erlebt zu haben.
Dr. Ottmar Dengel was a member of the Akademische Ferien-Vereinigung Algovia in Kempten (Allgäu), Germany, from 22 October 1952 until his death. After moving to the USA, he was far away, but very close to our club; in fact, he was one of or most true and devoted members. His energy, his memory, his openness were fascinating also for young members. We were able to surprise him with a special party on his 90th birthday in Kempten in our room in the “Stift” inn at Kempten, and we enjoyed it maybe even more than he did, which was obvious.
When I visited the USA in 1994, I only knew that he was a member, never had seen him before, rang him on the phone and he spontaneously invited me to come to his home in the beautiful mountains.
He will be missed as a sparkling person regardless of age, as a man who brought together love for his home in the Allgäu and in America, somebody who lived our motto “libere et hilariter”, freely and hilariously, as an example for us all. We gave him the nickname “Tobias”, and I may say “Pfiati Tobias und dankschee” (God may protect you and thank you).
On behalf of Algovia,
Dr. Hilmar Sturm, “Philistersekretär” (president)
Hi Florian,
I’m deeply sorry for your loss. He was like a father to me, and I can’t put into words how much sadness I feel about his passing. He always reminded me of my own father because of the many similarities they shared. I’ll never forget his kindness and the way he always took care of us. He will forever remain in my thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.