Walter D. Mott

Walter D. Mott, 85, passed away at Masconomet Healthcare Center in Topsfield, MA on Saturday, May 26, 2018. He was born in Albany, NY on July 11, 1932 to Dr. Walter C. and Charlotte D. Mott. He was raised in Albany and attended The Albany Academy where he left a legacy of sports and academic excellence. He went on to study history at Princeton University and graduated in 1954. From Princeton, he did his graduate work at Yale Divinity School.

Walt’s first job was at a mission school, Gerard Institute, in Sidon, Lebanon where he taught young Arab boys, many Palestinian refugees from a nearby refugee camp, English and literature for three years. He also coached a basketball team there which made it to the Lebanese high school championship. He returned to the states in 1960 and taught religion and culture at The Loomis School in CT for two years. He moved on to Wesleyan University in CT where he worked as an Assistant Director of Admissions. While working there, he obtained a Master’s degree in Literature. He became socially active in the late 60’s and got involved in the antiwar movement and the civil rights movement. This led him to DC where he helped to start the Upward Bound program with the Office of Equal Opportunity (War on Poverty agency). The program helped to foster educational advancement for disadvantaged youths. This experience led to starting and directing an inner city (DC) talent search program called Project O.P.E.N. Walt worked to identify disadvantaged youths with college potential and link them with colleges that would not only admit them, but provide financial aid in addition to supporting them with counseling and skill building. Walt spent most of his career at North Shore Community College where he worked from 1970-2001. He initially helped to start a program called Motivation to Education to serve disadvantaged students, but then moved into teaching in the Behavioral Science and Interdisciplinary Studies program. He met his wife, Deborah Massa, at North Shore. They lived in Newburyport for 23 years.

Walt is survived by his loving wife; two stepdaughters, Stacey St.Pierre, Stephanie St.Pierre and her husband, Justin Anderson; two grandchildren, Natalie and Noah Anderson; siblings, Donna Mae Dolven, Kenneth Mott and his wife, Lovette; many other family members, several nieces and nephews, and friends.

Services will be private. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA01950 is assisting Mr. Mott’s family with his funeral arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made in Walt’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter D. Mott, please visit our floral store.