John R. Schott

John R. Schott, 82, a resident of Dublin, NH, formerly of Francestown, NH and Jaffrey Center, NH, died at his home after a period of declining health on April 19, 2018. Born in Rochester, NY, he was the son of the late John and Ellen (Waite) Schott. He was an international consultant, educator and active civic leader in Southern New Hampshire. He graduated magna cum laude from Haverford College, a Rotary Foundation Fellow, and subsequently a Coslett Foundation Scholar at Oxford University, and received his Ph.D from Harvard University.

During his professional career, he taught at Harvard, Wellesley College and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He also served as Senior Vice President of Thunderbird Graduate School of International Development. In addition, he served as President of Schott & Associates and worked as a consultant in International Affairs. As chief of the Title IX bureau of the State Department, he was responsible for transforming US foreign aid policy from a micro-economic approach to one focused more directly on local rural population. Subsequently, as an advisor to the office of the Prime Minister in Thailand, he developed and wrote a new approach to cooperative development in Thailand. He served in a similar advisory capacity to Indonesia’s Minister of Cooperatives. For this and other work on the international stage, he was the Recipient of the Rotary International Foundation Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award in 2005-2006.

In New Hampshire, Dr. Schott had a long history of civic leadership. As a Francestown Selectman, Dr. Schott focused efforts on historic preservation and authored Frances’ Town: A History of Francestown in 1972. He served on many boards and associations, including as Chair of New Hampshire Public Radio, President of the Board of Trustees of the Spaulding Youth Center, trustee of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Chair of RiverMead Retirement Committee, on the Board of Directors of Cheshire Medical Center, and as Chairman of Southeastern New Hampshire University’s Community Economic Development Program. He also served as a trustee of the Sharon Arts Center and the Granite State Conservation Voters Alliance.

As a staunch supporter of the environment and New Hampshire forests, Dr. Schott served as Chairman of the New Hampshire Chapter of Nature Conservancy and New Hampshire Timber-Tourism Coalition. He was Vice Chairman of the Foresters Licensing Board, and President of New Hampshire Timberland Owner’s Association.

He is survived by his wife Diane (Dempsey) Schott, daughter, Jennifer Schott and her husband Derek Rosenfield of San Francisco, CA, son, Jared R. Schott and his wife Katherine, of Pawtucket, RI, his sister Carolyn Goodrich and husband Michael of Maryland, daughter-in-law Melinda Schott and 7 grandchildren (Abigail, Isaac and Jessica Schott-Rosenfield, Dempsey and Jared Schott, and Zoe and Jacob Schott). He was pre-deceased by two children, Elizabeth Anne Schott and Kermit Alexander Schott.

In accordance with Dr. Schott’s wishes, there will be no formal calling hours or services. Following cremation, burial will take place in the No. 3 Cemetery, Francestown, NH.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy. Donations may be made at the Nature Conservancy website: https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/newhampshire/index.htm