Dr. Otis B. Michael Sr.

DR. OTIS B. MICHAEL — Baltimore resident, father, medical doctor, politician and friend to so many — passed away on May 2, 2014. Otis was 82 at the time and is survived by his three children: Otis B. Michael Jr. (Redmond, Washington), Robin M. Earnest, Esq. (College Park, Maryland), and Nikkie L. Friedman (Long Island, New York). Otis is also survived by two loving grandchildren: Gavin Friedman and Sara Earnest. Otis was born on Friday, September 13 1931, as the first son of the late Otis Bentley Michael, MD and Nannie Patterson. However, for Otis, Friday the 13th was anything but unlucky. Like his father, Otis excelled at the art of medicine and attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating from Meharry with honors, Otis went on to become an accomplished physician and politician in his own right. Notably, after graduating Otis returned to his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina and opened a thriving practice specializing in internal medicine and cardiology. Otis' medical career proved to be typified by extraordinary accomplishments. For example, he combined his love of flying with his love of medicine and created an air-ambulance service by which he flew patients to locations where they could obtain proper treatment. Otis owned and loved flying airplanes. His political career was equally stellar. Notably, Otis served as a commissioner on the Asheville Redevelopment Commission. In 1975 he ran as a Republican for Asheville City Council and won. Both Democrats and Republicans supported his candidacy. Otis was viewed as a solid, sensible hometown candidate who believed in the idea that by working together people can solve their own problems. He served two terms on City Council. In 2000, Otis retired from his medical practice and moved to Baltimore to be near his sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Doward Patterson, and his daughters, Robin and Nikkie. Still, Otis continued to work in the field of medicine, lecturing and affiliating with the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins Hospitals. In 2008 he was honored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Swirnow Charitable Foundation with a lectureship in his name to recognize life-long dedication to the medical profession. In 2006 he served as Chairman of Baltimore's Commission on Aging. Otis was well known for his laughter, optimism and folksy sayings like: "If the Lord be willing and the creek don't rise," and "Plant you now and dig you later." He enjoyed flying, golf, poker, bridge and having a good time with his friends. He was a faithful brother in Sigma Pi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternities.

Tributes

Dr. Otis B. Michael Sr.

September 13, 1931 - May 2, 2014