Richard Mott, a longtime social studies teacher at Staples High School, has died unexpectedly at his Monroe home, students at the school were told today.
He was 54 and, according to a biography on the Staples Web site, had taught at the school since 1971.
Joyce Losen, a spokesperson for the school system, confirmed Mott’s death but said she had no details.
Update (4/14/2004): In a message Wednesday to parents, Staples principal John Brady said Mott took his own life with a gun at his home Monday afternoon.
“Rich had taught at Staples for more than 30 years, and will be remembered as a wonderful teacher and fine human being,” Brady said.
He told parents that educators had “wrestled with how to convey this message to teenagers, sensitive to the way in which students view teachers as role models, and agreed, particularly in the context of our discussions over the last few months about cheating and honesty, that a simple, straightforward message was essential (and some students had seen a report about the incident in the Connecticut Post).”
Brady said after the announcement, students were given the opportunity to share their feelings with teachers and counselors.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Temple Israel, Brady said, adding that students who wished to attend would be excused from classes.
Mott’s courses this year at Staples included American Government and Introduction to Psychology, according to the Web site.
Parents of students were told that the school’s crisis team had met with department chairs and that Brady and Elliot Kraut, social studies department chair, had met with Mott’s classes to share the news with his students.
Counselors were made available to students throughout the day and would remain available for the rest of the week, according to a school source.
Mott held a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State University and a M.A. from Fairfield University.
Mott is survived by his wife, Sandra L. Schwartz Mott, his daughters Carolyn Martin and Sara Mott of Bridgeport, his brother, John, of Georgia, and several nieces and nephews.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that contributions be made to the Richard C. Mott Memorial Scholarship, c/o Staples High School, 70 North Ave., Westport, CT 06880.
I also worked with Mr. Mott in the Television Studio and WWPT. He wore many hats at the school and performed superbly at all his jobs. The students always greatly appreciated his enthusiasm. He will be sorely missed by those whose lives he touched.
-Evan
SHS ‘92
That is so sad. Being in Westport since 1960 and have gone through the school systum here, We have lost many good teachers, including Mr. Mott. I did not know him,I missed him by 4 years, but as most of the teachers here as far I’m concerned are some of the best in this contry.
This is such sad news. Richard Mott taught my daughter when she attended Staples. He was wonderful! Interested in his students, his subject, and in connecting the two with enthusiasm, his class was something my daughter always looked forward to. He was kind, intelligent, concerned… what more is there to say? What a gift to those who knew him. What a loss to the community, to those who knew him, and to those who will never have the chance.
May he rest in peace, and those who mourn him find comfort.
Thank you for posting this information—it is indeed sad to read about it. While I didn’t have Mr. Mott in class, I worked with him closely at the Staples radio station (WWPT) and in the television studio (he served as a faculty advisor to both while I was there). I have not been in touch with him in many years, and am glad to have a chance to remember him. The Staples community will definitely miss him.
-Emily
SHS ‘92
It was a shock to hear from my daughter yesterday that Mr. Mott had died on Monday. She had his class last semester and she really liked him. I hope his family finds peace and comfort in his memory.
Mr. Mott was one of my favorite teachers at Staples. I always thought of him as a very gifted educator. His involvement with the school and student body was very important to him…and the kids both respected and admired him for that.
I wish his family and friends peace and comfort in this hard time. Mr. Mott will be well-remembered and we will all miss him very much.
I also rememebr Mr. Mott fondly from my days at Staples. He was always a very popular teacher. I haven’t thought of him in a very long time, but will now recall him and what he has given to the students of Staples for the past few DECADES! He will be sorely missed. It is so sad, and I wish his family the best in the obviously difficult time.
that’s so weird. I had him for 3 years at staples, (western freshman yr, history sophmore yr & pyscho senior yr) is this any more information on why he did it?? Is it true it was with a gun? I would’ve never thought. Especially Mr. Mott.
I am greatly saddened to learn of the death of Richard Mott. I worked very closely with Mr. Mott while I was a student at Staples. He was the advisor to WWPT and the Television studio and put a great deal of humor and insight in to the activities he advised. Inside the classroom, his straightforward and humorous manner is memorable even almost 15 years later.
I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Mott’s wife and children on a couple of occasions. My condolences to them.
Mr. Mott was a social studies teacher at my high school. He taught one of my favourite classes at Staples, Anthropology (aka the Indiana Jones class). He was also the faculty advisor of the Video Yearbook, a club I was heavily involved with. Needless to say, he was one of my favourite and closest teachers at Staples. He was usually a very cheerful guy and I never expected him to be someone who would take his own life. He will be missed.
Mr. Mott was the reason I went into teaching. He was my teacher for all four of my years at Staples and he was a great one. Mr. Mott was always willing to sit down and work with me on my lackluster social studies skills. He will be missed as a fine educator and an incredibly generous man.
It is sad to hear of this teacher’s untimely death. Sadder yet to read the comments of loss and realize how many lives he touched and how much he was appreciated. We offer our sympathies to Mr. Mott’s family in this troubling time and hope they find consolation and peace together.
We are fortunate in Westport to have many wonderful and dedicated educators that still remain with us today. In the three years that we have lived in this town our experiences with our son’s teachers have always been positive. They all have demonstrated professionalism, dedication and truly care about our children. We all would do well to remember them today also. I hope Mr. Mott’s collegues will take heart in the kind words his students have expressed and know that they too are equally appreciated, even if they don’t always hear the words. Our teachers are the keepers of our precious future and for that we parents are deeply grateful.
I echo everything that Emily and Evan wrote. My mom just pointed me to this story, and I’m shocked beyond belief. My thoughts go out to his family and friends and former students and colleagues.
Rich Mott and I shared the Staples Television Studio for a number of years. We started together and spent many hours together. He cared about kids and he was really good at what he did. Since retiring, I had not seen him. I am saddened to learn of his death and my heart goes out to his family.
A number of former students’ comments match my own. He will be missed.
TG
I knew Richard for about eight years now. My wife have been his friend for 25 years. We have spent many hours with him and his wonderful wife and daughters. We are greatly saddened at his passing. Our hearts could never express the appreciation we had for him and his family. They are an incredible family. Our lives will never be the same. Our thoughts go out to the family and all his students, may you remember his enthusiasm and find comfort within yourselves to move forward.
May in rest in peace.
I was very sad to hear the news of Mr. Mott’s death; I knew him very well during my time at Staples. I had Mr. Mott as a teacher for Western Humanites & American History Part I. But I will most remember him as the advisor to WWPT, in which I had four outstanding years.
I want to give a big thanks to “Radio Richard” for his dedication and support; and my heart goes out to his family, students & colleagues during this tragic time.
Not enough can be said about this great man…not only was he a wonderful teacher to soooo many students, he was a wonderful hubsand and father to his family. He witty sense of humor and candid approach was something that will be cherished.His patience approach was something that he learn after living with three women in his life that were the centered of his universal. I feel that he could no longer endur the daily battle with his personal problems and hopelessly wanted to find some peace. No one will ever know for sure what he was thinking about at that moment when this happened….but it doesn’t really matter at this point. Remember that he was a man who gave of himself ten times over…never expecting anything in return. Remember and embrace all of the good that he showed others. Keep him in your hearts and your prays. His memory will live in each of us for a very long time…people who make a difference in our lives are never forgotten! RMK
I’m speechless, this has come as a huge shock. I had Mr. Mott in highschool, he was one of my favorite teachers, if not “the” favorite one. We all loved Mr. Mott. His death, and the way he died was all too surreal…why did he do it? He always told us to ask when we don’t know the answer because he’ll catch us if we are bluffing :P…so if I could right now, I’d give anything to ask him why he did it? :(what made him feel like his life was not worth living anymore? What pained him so much that he couldn’t just stick it out…b/c if anything he should have known how wonderful he was, how caring he was to all of his students, and how much we value and appreciate him…death is the last thing that Mr. Mott would ever be equated with…
Why …
I was not a student, or peer of Richard Mott.
His wife Sandy; is a dear friend of mine.
I have read every word you all have written about him; and I have to thank you , for leaving the legacy of those wonderful memories , of that special person in your lives; to his wife , Sandy; and daughters , Carrie and Sara.
In the weeks and months to come; I know those thoughts and tributes will bring much solace to his grieving family.
May he rest in peace, and his family find comfort.
I have known Richard Mott for about 26 years. He was always funny, full of life…joie de vivre. He was married to my husband’s sister and he was my daughter’s uncle. He always gave her gummy bears. My husband is devastated. He has known Richard since he was about 13 years old and Richard was really like a big brother to him. One time, he fixed my husband up with some other girl as a date to the Staples High School prom. That was in the late 70s. They used to canoe together, play tennis together, share good times. Richard had an amazing knack for making people feel comfortable. I remember that because when I was new to the family, he did that for me. He always had a joke or a game or a wink…and he made things seem easy. I know that many people are wondering why he took his own life. Of course, there are no easy answers. But, I have a feeling that it is pretty simple. I don’t think he ever realized what a great person he was. What an incredible impact he had on so many. How greatly he was loved. How many people needed him. I think he was a wonderful person and had a wonderful life! It was just too damned short. We will miss him deeply.
Not enough can be said about my father-in-law. His love of teaching inspired me to go back to school and finish my teaching degree so I could make a difference….. Reading all of these thoughtful comments written by his colleagues and his students, I can only dream of making half the contribution to education that Richard made. To hear how fun and interesting he made his classes only inspires me more. I will miss him so much. He cared so much about everyone in his life. He loved to tell us the stories from his days at school…he always brought home a new word he had heard from the students and tried to pass it off as his own new “hip” word. He was a family man first but he was always a teacher. Whether it be trying to teach me how to fish (even though I’d been fishing for years) or him showing me how to start a lawn mower (that anyone ever starting a lawn mower could have figured out), he always tried to share his wisdom with all those he encountered. I will always be so proud of my father and I will miss him more than he will ever know. He will always be with me and all of us in our fondest memories. Thank you everyone for sharing your memories with us.
I also worked closely with Mr. Mott at the Staples Television Studio. It saddens me to think about all the students who will never experience his great energy. I am also sad to know that I will never have the to opportunity to tell Mr. Mott how much my time with him in the studio inspired and shaped my life today.
My condolences to his family.
I concur with the previous comments. Mr. Mott will be so well remembered because he touched thousands of lives in the course of his many years teaching at Staples, including my own in the social studies classroom and at WWPT.
Aaron Donovan
SHS ‘94
I have know Richard for 36 years and my husband Sam has know him for over 45 years, our hearts are broken for Sandy, Carrie, Sara, Shane and Jay. My most vivid memory of Richard was his laugh and those blue eyes. I always knew we would learn something everytime we were together, sometimes it was the same thing over and over again but it did not matter to Richard, he told us history like it was the first time we had heard it. Of course we would always roll our eyes and say NO, not again and of course he would laugh and continue with the story. We often wondered how much fun he must have been in his classroom, and we always knew his students were very special to him. His love for his wife Sandy was so evident, I will never forget our first double date it was so clear to see in those blue eyes he was in love. When Carrie was born there was no one more proud, he ws so gentle and so in love with that baby, she would always be at their side, every Sat. evening she would be in her chair while we all played cards. When Sara came along he was so happy to have another daughter, just to see him with both girls would melt your heart, he often joked about being the only male in a house full of women. We will miss him more than we could ever express, he will be in our hearts and from all we have read in everyone’s hearts. Someone as special as Richard can never be forgotten.
May he rest in peace and may all these wonderful memories of him give you all peace.
Rich,
May you rest in peace my beloved friend.
You were a gentleman of peace, respect, and care for others.
Never did I hear a poor word from you about others. Your honesty, professionalism and idealistic outlook toward our students was always exemplary. At your peak you had few rivals. At your low you unfortunately you failed to see still how good you were. And that was bad !
You made a poor decision, my friend, in leaving us now.
Nevertheless, we shared 30 years and there is so much to remember. And, indeed, I will remember the best of times with the “Faculty All-Star-Eagles”.
Yup.
We flew high.
And, it will be those times that I will remember most.
May you have happiness now in the “Highlands” that you’ve been seaching for.
Love you, my friend, my colleague.
Ed
For a very brief period of time during the years of declining enrollment, I taught social studies here at Staples and claimed membership to the Social Studies Department. At that time, I was still new here and did not have a full time job as a computer teacher. It was during that time that I got to know Mr. Mott. He was the social studies, TV, and radio guy who was involved in so many aspects of Staples. My early impression of him was that he always looked sharp, had a keen eye and ear on what was happening, and clearly had good thought and memories of a close and supportive department – there were pictures all over his office wall of faculty basketball teams, field trips, archeological digs and such.
About seven years or so ago, Rich Mott along with Tom Green began to turn over the TV studio to me. It was a process that, once begun, took several years to accomplish. This was shortly before Tom retired and shortly before Rich went back full-time to the Social Studies Department. To some extent, Rich did this with some reluctance since both he and Tom had put so much effort into developing the program and the TV studio. And so, Rich was more than a little protective of his program and of his space that he had worked so hard to develop.
As time went by, Rich grew more to trust me and was began to share with me his years of wisdom and experience. As time went by, I made it a point to touch bases with Rich whenever I saw him in the hall. He would talk to me about the antique show fund raiser, Cablevision, and anything that I needed an opinion on… and he usually had one on about everything. I appreciate all the time he took with me pointing out the pitfalls of running the TV Studio and eventually WWPT as well.
It is hard for me to talk about his passing. I want so badly to say that I had no idea that things were apparently so bad for him. Staples is a big place with people who go about their day and with whom I do not have frequent contact. The last few times I saw Rich it was in passing in the halls. He had his game face on and I hurrying to get to wherever I was going. But I so wish we could have all collectively embraced Rich and stopped him from leaving us so soon. I believe Rich was someone who was good to talk to and good to be around; for this reason and other more personal reasons I am very sorry I will no longer have that opportunity. I will miss talking to him about TV, radio, and our jobs. I will miss his company and his smile, that smile and those eyes that saw so much.
Jim Honeycutt
Media Teacher
Staples High School.
So sadden to hear the news of Mr Motts passing. He truely was one of my favorite teachers at Staples. I remember the great days in anthro class being outside digging up the various items that had been buried for us to find. He always made keep it fun and kept it interesting. I was a rather shy kid back in those days and Mr Mott alway made feel really comfortable in his classes. Mr Mott, I will always remember all the nice things you did for me. Thank you and you will be greatly missed.
Suzanne Gassner
SHS ‘88
While I heard about the tragic passing of Mr. Mott this past summer, I can recall the many things that I and my classmates learned from him over the years of Social Studies and TV Production. He always made himself available and would go the extra mile to make sure his students were taken care of. He was an asset to the education system that will surely be missed.
Brian Rosenberg
SHS ‘92