Together, they completed an incredible dual career studying natural biological processes and inventing methods and machines that duplicated those actions. This new science became known as “Biomimetics” or “The Mimicry of Nature.” Otto’s research into squid nerves led to his patented “Schmitt Trigger”. His early invention of the Schmitt Trigger is used in billions of modern-day electronics. After World War II, their pursuits became strictly humanitarian in nature, concentrating on medical electronic diagnostic methods and machines. They published over 260 papers in Otto’s name and influenced many of today’s best scientists and inventors.
Brilliant, kind, honest, humble, ambitious, inventor, advisor, friend. Just a few of the words used to describe Otto by those who knew and loved him. Otto’s life is one of using his intellectual gifts for the benefit of all.
Born in 1913, Otto spent every year of his life learning, thinking and growing. From an early age, he was mentored by a man named Jacob Siler, who taught him the importance of asking the right questions. At age eight, inspired by his older brother Frank, he electrified the carcass of a rabbit that was to be the family dinner. Hiding under the kitchen table, he made the skinned rabbit jump as the cook was approaching, giving her quite a scare. Fortunately, that would not be the last of Otto’s hi-jinx.

A non-traditional student long before the phrase became lexicon, Otto skipped some of high school to learn from world renowned scientists. Otto returned to Saint Louis, Missouri, to earn his bachelor’s degree (1934) and his doctoral degrees (1937) from Washington University in zoology, physics and mathematics.
Also in 1937, he married Viola, who was his beloved wife for 57 years. He then completed post-doctorate work at University College in London, England from 1937 to 1939, coming back home to America as World War II began.
Otto and Viola came to Minnesota in 1939 where for almost 60 years they influenced many students at the University of Minnesota. Shortly after becoming an associate professor at the U of MN in 1941 during World War II, Otto and Viola worked behind the scenes as members of the Greatest Generation. They were scientists on important, top-secret, military projects during World War II. In addition to other projects, Viola worked on the Manhattan Project, and Otto invented a device to pinpoint the location of enemy submarines.
A man whose home, office and laboratory were so full of gadgets, equipment and inventions it was hard to walk from one end to the other, Otto became famous for tricking people into stealing his ideas. Otto quickly learned that people would not take ideas he offered them, so he left his ideas out ‘on the table’ where others could snatch them up and develop them.
As a scientist Otto understood the inherent nature of instruments to fail. For this reason, he always carried many, many pens in a pocket protector --- but none of the same model lest they should fail simultaneously. Similarly, he wore watches on either arm and carried one in his pocket. If his wristwatches did not agree, Otto would consult his pocket watch. This “nonreplicative redundant thinking” guided Otto and Viola in their scientific pursuits.
Otto had a huge collection of neck ties plus working tie clips that included a slide rule and an abacus. Otto also enjoyed sharing chocolate covered candies --- the kind with ants and other insects inside. The man loved to laugh with others and at himself.
Viola was the single most important love of his life. When she suddenly passed away in 1994, Otto quickly began to slow down. Otto passed away in 1998, but not before inspiring students, colleagues, and friends to continue to broaden their horizons, to ask not only how, but why things work, and to seek connections between the seemingly unrelated.