I was saddened to read of Dr. Tetzlaff's passing. I threw his newspaper as a kid, but I got to know him when I took his German classes at ASU. We became good friends, and I took him duck hunting once out at Twin Buttes. He led quite a life.

I was heartbroke to hear about the passing of my friend, mentor, and fishing buddy. Dr. Tetzlaff stuck with me, believed in me, and encouraged me even when I had to drop out of ASU numerous times because life throws us curve balls. The last time I saw him he encouraged me to return and finish what I started, I did and my BA proudly hangs on the wall in my office where everybody can see. Right next to my Alpha Mu Gamma certificate. When people ask what my major was I proudly say "German". Although I did not graduate while my friend was still a professor at ASU it was his encouragement that kept me going to finally do so under Dr. Krause. I have many fond memories of his class and our fishing trips. One of my fondest memories of our adventures and one that I will never forget was that I took him fishing back home in a stock tank. He hung a very large catfish and I was fishing on the other side and was on crutches at the time. All I could hear was "Don come quick, I have a big one" in his accent rolling across the tank, and his eyes as big as saucers and a grin from ear to ear. It was very memorable. What was more memorable is the way he told me he cooked it, on the barbeque. (I tried to explain the concept of "fish fry" in class but to no avail)
One thing for the record that I have to correct Dr. Tetzlaff was Prussian, not East German. Goodbye my friend, you will be missed.

I remember taking German from him when I was 7--they offered German class for kids at ASU..I loved it..He was truly an awesome person and great teacher.

I met Otto in 1965; my wife had been there when Hettie and Otto met in 1957. Though he and I never agreed on politics, we became close friends and remained so until his death. I remember so many good times together with him: when we all spent a week together at Hilton Head, and he and I rode bikes together and laughed all week; the breakfasts at our house where Otto scolded me for having so many varieties of jelly and marmalade on the table; when he asked me to be the godfather for his son, Michael... far too many memories to list. God rest your soul, Otto. You overcame every mountain placed in your way and made our lives better.

I knew Otto since 1957, when he appeared as an American GI at the office where my good friend Hettie and I worked for the US military in Germany. Hettie was bowled over when he looked at her and said in perfect German, Hi, I'm Otto Tetzlaff. He became Hettie's husband and the big brother I never had, and I miss him terribly.

Otto, my friend, I think about you so very much. There is a great vacuum in our lives now. We knew each other for 51 years and there are so many great memories I will treasure. I recall you talking about World War II when you were a teenager and faced the Russians when they came into Germany. Your personal history was absolutely fascinating in so many ways. You are in my heart and mind, always. Love, Margrit

Otto Tetzlaff and all the Tetzlaff family have been, are and always will be my family in the truest sense of the word "family".

The amazing impact that Otto has had on my life is more profound than I can even put into words. He's always been a powerful force, an inspiration, a prankster, a teacher, a wise sage, and quite literally a second father to me.

So many wonderful pieces of my memories have been spilling back into my consciousness, from my early childhood on. Among some of them: my sister and I spending fun-filled summers with the Tetzlaffs; Otto proudly inviting Houston Oilers kicker Toni Fritsch to dinner with the family in 1978; his devotion to his family and the highest esteem for education and ASU; Otto's glee and a big hug for me when I first voted Democrat (I'm from a Republican family); walking each of his stunningly beautiful daughters down the aisle at their weddings, and many many more...

The memories and joys of my life that I have been so blessed to share with all My Tetzlaffs are some of the most priceless treasures I can imagine. I miss so many things about Otto. I miss the way that a room full of various conversations would come to a halt when he began to speak - everyone riveted to what brilliant points he would make, regardless of whether or not they agreed. I miss his often irreverant humor (frequently politically incorrect, but always with his heart in the right place). I miss his powerful presence and his beaming grin, and all the many amazing things that he knew, had seen, experienced and shared with all of us that were fortunate enough to have some place in his life.

I know that Otto is in a peaceful place now, undoubtedly giving some of the other angels lots of chuckles with his keen and humorous observations. I've always learned from him, and I guess I still am. I'm trying to figure out how to take what he taught me, and to make something positive out of my own pain at losing him. Here's to our Otto Tetzlaff: truly unforgettable, brilliant, complex and wonderful. God bless you, and hope to see you again someday.

Love and Peace,
Tinamaus

I learned belatedly of the death of Otto Tetzlaff this past Christmas, not having spent much time in San Angelo since the death of my parents. Otto Tetzlaff was a big influence on me, and I have many fond memories of him from classes at ASU as well as the German conversation groups set up for after hours. I was in his German classes in the early to mid 1970s and he sometimes referred to me in class as "der Geist" (the Ghost) since he never really knew if I was going to show up or not. I love German and foreign languages generally and he was a perfect guy to head the department. He helped me in a very big way to get ready to do a Master's in German at UT Austin, something I didn't do because I fell into industry. When I went to Europe in 1977 after finishing at ASU, Otto gave me his father's address in Bissingen-Untremberg north of Stuttgart, and I actually went to visit him and spent a night at his place. Walter Tetzlaff was a very kindly older man at that time, he lived right under the ruin of a castle and kept pigeons. He was very old school German in every way. I remember Otto telling me his Dad had served in the German army and spent time in Russian POW camp, and that when he was released and returned to Germany, it was an emotional moment for Otto. What I learned from reading the other remembrances here was that he was in the US Army in Bremerhaven, Germany in 1954. My Dad was in the US Air Force stationed there at the exact same time, and I was born there that year as well. I never knew this coincidence. Otto was a major figure at ASU in the 1970s when I was there, he was a true scholar and a very fascinating fellow to learn from. My most vivid memory is how he would thunder at the latecomers to class to show up on time, in German "Sei Puenktlich", or "Be punctual"! Farewell, Otto Teztlaff!