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Otis U. Kleperis, 66, of Stafford Springs, passed away March 3, 2008.
He was born in Latvia, the son of the late Otto and Elsa Kleperis. He was employed by the State of Connecticut Educational Depart-ment.
He is survived by family and friends.
Calling hours are today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect St., Rockville.
Funeral services and burial are private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scout Troop 25, 11 Center St, Manchester, CT 06040 c/o the Camp Kirkam Land Purchase.
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William Ratcliffe
Otis was a lot of fun to have as a friend
Kathy Lewis (Williams)
The following was posted on the Grew Up in Manchester group on Facebook. Does anyone recall the story? Who was with Otis that day?
Here is a story about a very brave boy, Otis Kleperis. He was at Misquamicut Beach the day a group of Manchester High School students decided to skip their senior class picnic and go to Misquamicut instead. Since it was early spring, the undertow was unusually strong. One senior boy was dragged out by the undertow and could not get back to shore. Otis noticed that the swimmer was in deadly trouble and quickly paddled out on a log he found on the beach, to rescue him. By the time he got to the senior, the boy had given up and sunk beneath the waves. Otis reached under and grabbed the boy and pulled him up onto the log and paddled them back to shore. It was touch and go at the Rhode Island hospital, where the boy was taken. Otis died a few years ago. The fellow he rescued wrote a letter to Otis's son, telling him of his father's heroic act. The son had never heard the story and was deeply grateful to have that fine memory of his dad.