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Teacher and Mountain Climber

Marianne Ott MAT ’64

August 15, 2024, in Gresham, Oregon, of age-related causes.

Marianne Ott was born in 1925 to renowned Portland landscape architects Walter H. and Florence Holmes Gerke.

After attending Catlin Gabel and Lincoln High School, Marianne continued her education at Oregon State Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) and went on to pursue a career in teaching. She taught high school, first in Bend (where she could pursue her avid love of skiing) and then in Gresham, where she taught at Gresham Union High School and met David Ott, whom she married in 1951.

Marianne later attended Reed, where she earned a master’s degree in the history and structure of the English language (the basis of her reputation for heavy use of her red editing pen!). Her thesis was  titled “High School French: A Curriculum Study.”

At Gresham High, Marianne taught a variety of classes including English, French, and pottery, though her first love was French. Many of her students became lifelong friends (she called them her Foreign Legion), and she concluded her career as chair of the language department. Throughout her life, Marianne was committed to education, as evidenced by her decision to create the Marianne Ott Scholarship, which offered first preference to students from Oregon.

In 1986, David Ott died, and in 1990, Marianne found another person to share her life with, Lloyd Slagle. Marianne was active in the community and was a long-time volunteer for the Gresham Art Committee and a member of the Mazamas (she was one of the first women to receive the coveted 16 Peaks Award).

Although Marianne gave up mountain climbing in her 50s, she continued to hike, swim, and tend to her three acres. In addition, she grew her artistic skills by focusing on woodworking, painting and pottery, selling her “Ott’s Pots” (she also specialized in lamps, bird feeders, and butter dishes).

She was predeceased by Lloyd and is survived by her daughter, Kerri Nelson.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Spring 2025

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