In Memoriam: Joe Kott, 1947 - 2019.

           

Joe Kott, longtime instructor of transportation planning in the Urban Studies program at Stanford, died of a heart attack on February 14 at his home in Oakland; he was 71.

 

Joe began teaching in the Urban Studies program in 2004. At the time, he was serving as the head transportation planner for the city of Palo Alto, a position he held from 1999 to 2005. He later worked for private planning firms and Bay Area planning agencies, and worked as a transportation consultant. He also taught at other universities in the Bay Area, including San Jose State University.

 

Joe held masters degrees in transportation engineering and in urban planning, and earned a Ph.D. from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute in Perth, Australia in 2012.

 

Joe will be remembered at Stanford as a devoted teacher and mentor, an engaging colleague, and a kind soul. He shared his passion for sustainable transportation with scores and scores of Stanford students. Joe was a fierce advocate for sustainable transportation alternatives, both in the classroom and in the policy realm, deeply devoted to promoting bicycling, walking, and mass transit in our cities. At the time of his death, he was looking forward to giving the keynote address at Acterra's 2019 Silicon Valley Green Team Network Spring Forum, in March.

 

Joe is survived by his wife, Katherine Kott, and by his son Paul and daughter Amy. His son Andrew predeceased him. Cards may be sent to:

Ms. Katherine Kott

c/o Program on Urban Studies

450 Serra Mall

Building 120, room 160

Stanford CA 94305-2048

 

A memorial service will be held at 11am on March 9th at Corpus Christi Church in Piedmont, California. A reception will follow.