Otto F. Schilkowski Jr., age 80, entered into rest on Friday, December 9, 2016, at Griffin Hospital. He was the beloved husband of 55 years to Helen (Doerrer) Schilkowski. Otto was born in Derby on August 31, 1936, son of the late Otto F. and Mary (Coppola) Schilkowski, and was a lifelong Shelton resident.
He graduated from St. Joseph School and Shelton High School Class of 1954, and attended New Haven State Teachers College. He returned to school later in his life and graduated from the University of New Haven with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice in 1979.
Otto served the people of Shelton his entire life. He was a Certified Training Officer for the Shelton Police Department and was the first member of the Bomb Squad. He was a longtime member of the Police Assoc. Of CT and the Shelton Police Assoc. Otto served for twenty years as a member of the Echo Hose Ambulance Corp, over fifty years as a member of the Fire Department, and was a Past Captain of the Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Company.
He worked as a substitute teacher at the Intermediate School and was head of security for the Shelton School System. He also served as Past President of the Sunnyside PTA.
In addition, Otto was a very active coach, serving as an Asst Football Coach for the Shelton HS Freshman team for eight years, coaching Babe Ruth baseball, and running a basketball program for St. Margaret Mary Church.
He was an eight year veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves and a member of the American Legion Sutter-Terlizzi Post No 16. He was also a longtime member of the Highland Golf Club. Otto was a founding member of St. Margaret Mary Church and was very active there. He was a former trustee of the church, was a member of the Men’s Club, served on the parish council, trained altar servers, and used to the run the CCD program for confirmation.
He is the beloved father of Ruth Elizabeth Schilkowski and her husband Gary Swatt, and cherished grandfather of Otto R. Schilkowski, Noah Swatt, Nathan Swatt, and Kylie Swatt. He also leaves five siblings, MaryLou Klimovich, John “Buzz” Schilkowski, Elizabeth Ann Domizio, Helene Schilkowski, and James “Buzzy” Schilkowski and his wife Cynthia, a special niece, Beth Bianco, who was like a second daughter, among several other nieces and nephews.
Friends may greet the family at the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, on Tuesday from 3 to 7 PM and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial directly at St. Margaret Mary Church, 50 Donovan Lane, Shelton on Wednesday at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are requested to St. Margaret Mary Church, 50 Donovan Lane, Shelton, CT 06484 or through the funeral director.
Online condolences can be offered at www.riverviewfh.com.
