Otto Roethenmund

Otto Roethenmund beloved husband, father, grandfather passed away Monday at his home in Palm Desert, California at the age of 94. He leaves behind a inspiring legacy of love, compassion, and self-determination.

Otto was born in the small town of Heimenschwand, Switzerland. After studying at the University of Neuchâtel, and 2 years of service in the Swiss Army, he immigrated to America at the age of 26 in search of new opportunities to broaden his horizon.

He started his career at The J. Henry Schroder Bank in New York City as an investment banker and foreign exchange specialist. After years of climbing the ranks, he left in search of more autonomy and the ability to have a broader impact, and joined the Deak-Perera Group. He expanded their currency exchange business internationally, and built a global remittances business that helped countless individuals working abroad support their families back home. He went on to serve as Vice Chairman for the firm, as well as Vice Chairman of the Foreign Commerce Bank in Zurich.  He would eventually move on to found and head his own investment advisory firm: Inter-Nation Capital Management.

The driving theme behind all of Otto’s endeavors was a core belief that all human beings, regardless of origin, class, or race, deserved an equal opportunity for success and happiness. Ever the Swiss neutralist, he built his business around seeing the world as a global community, and worked to break down the barriers between peoples and nations. He had a passion for building bridges between people, and sought out relationships with humans from all walks of life.

He did so as well in his personal life, traveling extensively in the hopes of meeting with and learning about as many different cultures as he could. He traveled not for himself, but to spread the stories of those people that he met, so that for all of us the world might feel a bit more connected.

Otto also was active in the communities where he lived: past Treasurer of the Explorer’s Club (NY), Former Trustee of  both Dickinson College (PA) and Trustee of  Mercy College (NY) and board of Governors Westchester Country Club.

Otto’s business impact is the backdrop to the core of his legacy: that of being a loving and inspiring husband, father, and grandfather. Everything he did, he did from a place of love for his family. He led by example and showed them what it means to selflessly care for others, and gave them a platform from which they might be ability to build on that legacy.

He joins his beloved wife of 63 years, Ermina Grassi Roethenmund, and is survived by his children and grandchildren.