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Otto Schellhase

Otto Schellhase, 88, of Annapolis, a longtime restaurateur, died of complications from surgery Oct. 27 at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Mr. Schellhase was the proprietor from the mid-1930s to 1980 of Schellhase's Restaurant, which was opened by his father on April 1, 1924. The restaurant was first on Franklin Street in Baltimore, then moved nine years later to 412 N. Howard St., the heart of the theater district. It served distinct Germanic fare until closing in 1980.

Writer H. L. Mencken and his Saturday Night Club patronized the back room until the club dissolved in 1950, and actors Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan held their wedding reception on the second floor in 1931.

Born Sept. 27, 1917, and reared in Baltimore, Mr. Schellhase served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

He was active in the Restaurant Association of Maryland, which presents an annual award in his name. He also had been member of the Boumi Temple since 1939.

Surviving are his wife, Frieda L. Schellhase, whom he married in 1941 and who helped him "with everything but cooking" in the restaurant; two sons, Robert Schellhase of Severna Park and Ron Schellhase of Bethesda; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Parkwood Cemetery, 3310 Taylor Ave., Baltimore. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.

As published in "The Capital Newspaper" Annapolis, Md 10/29/2005