Frank L. Mott Obituary (1935 - 2020)

It is with the deepest sadness that the Mott and Forrest families announce the death of Frank Leonard Mott (born, December 12, 1935; age 85), on December 31st, 2020. Frank passed away peacefully at his home in Bexley, in the loving care of his wife and life partner of 54 years, Susan Mott, and his daughter Tamar Mott Forrest. Frank was born in Berlin, Germany to Siegfried and Yulla Mosczytz, and the family name was changed to Mott when Frank and his family fled the Nazis in 1938, and settled in the United States. Growing up jointly in New York and Ohio, Frank graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Army, and then met his future wife and partner in life, Susan Hoffheimer (Mott) while working in Washington DC. Frank and Susan were married in Cincinnati on November 24, 1966. Following the birth of their son, Joshua, Frank completed his Ph.D. in Demography/Sociology from Brown University. Frank’s career and life was devoted to improving the lives of the communities and the individuals around him. His work in Demography led him to bring his family to live in Lagos, Nigeria, where he helped develop the Population Center at the University of Lagos. They briefly came home to the States to give birth to their daughter Tamar (Tammy) in 1975. In 1980, Frank led the family to live in Nairobi, Kenya. These foundational experiences shaped the lives, perspectives, and career choices of Susan, Joshua, and Tammy alike, as all looked to, and continue to follow, his personal and global perspective in their own career and life choices. Moving to Columbus, Ohio for the first time in 1975, Frank joined the faculty of The Ohio State University and its Center for Human Resource Research where he helped manage national longitudinal surveys. He remains an internationally respected researcher in demography, and was the recipient of many honors. His empathy and gentle nature, combined with his professional expertise, made him a mentor to many young professionals, current academic leaders, and other friends who join us in mourning his death. His loved ones will also miss dearly his playing of folk music, his African Art collection, art books, and baseball cards; his love of sports; and his spiritual leadership of the family’s Jewish faith. Frank loved more than anything to be surrounded by his family and friends, and to travel – ideally together. He enjoyed “happy hour” or a “sundowner”, and sharing a scotch and conversation with friends, and his dogs, at the end of the day. Frank’s favorite trips included an annual trip to Israel with family, trips back to Kenya, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his son; trips to Europe, and most recently to Southeast Asia to visit Josh and his family. Frank is preceded in death by his mother, Yulla Lipchitz, his father, Fred Mott, and his step-father, Jacques Lipchitz. Frank is survived by his wife Susan Mott; his son Joshua Mott and his wife Kelly; his daughter Tamar Mott Forrest and her husband Robert; his brother Hanno Mott (Grete Meilman), his sisters Lolya Lipchitz (Harold Kasimow) and Barbara Brafman (Larry Stein); his grandchildren Jacob, Lilah, and Isabella; and many more relatives and friends. Private graveside services will be held at 1pm on January 1, 2021 at New Tifereth Israel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Congregation Tifereth Israel www.tiferethisrael.org or Jewish Family Services www.jfscolumbus.org Online guest book at www.epsteinmemorial.com To view a recording of the service please click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/HKZUoTgcpTPPm1khP69CcOKbYQD5aKsn-N_G36_a-B6klb7keiSfhQwnTQ2WHvHc.lNJ-5McKa5fMmLFB