Va. book festival co-founder Otto dies

Calvin Peter Otto, 79, co-founder of the Virginia Festival of the Book, died Monday in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Otto also developed the Virginia Arts of the Book Center during his time in Charlottesville. His exhibits in the Dome Room at the Rotunda included “Only in Cloth: Publisher’s Bookbindings 1830-1910” and “Wastebasket Archaeology,” an exhibit of ephemera from 1876 to 1995.
Otto moved to Colorado Springs in 2001, where he helped to develop the All Pikes Peak Reads Program and served on the Pikes Peak Library District board of trustees.
Otto is survived by his wife, Patricia Otto; daughter Sharon Mertens, son-in-law Gary H. Mertens and grandson Christopher Mertens; and son James R. Otto, daughter-in-law Laurel Otto and grandson Nicholas Otto.

A memorial service is planned for Dec. 4 in Colorado Springs.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the PPLD Foundation, P.O. Box 1579, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.