Ron Bott, of Concord, passed away on October 21, 2022. A Rotarian who truly exemplified our motto of Service Above Self, Ron first joined the Rotary Club of Concord in 1997 and eventually became its president. He later helped to charter the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley and became its first president. Ron went on to serve in a number of Club and District positions, including District Membership Chair. The work that Rotary did was important to Ron, but even more important to him were the bonds that he formed with his Rotary comrades—they were truly an extension of his family.
Ron was born on July 29, 1957 in Greenville, SC to Richard and Maria Butt. As a US Airforce family, they travelled throughout the U.S. and England for the first 6 years of Ron’s childhood, before moving back to the family’s native Boston area.
Ron called New England home for most of his adult life, except for a brief detour to Florida, where he attended Florida State University. While there, he received a BS in Economics and an MBA, but more importantly became a lifelong, fanatical Florida State Seminole fan, as apparent to all by his frequent wearing of the Florida State garnet and gold colors.
Ron moved back to Boston to begin his career in financial consulting, originally working for Coopers & Lybrand, and was eventually hired away by a young, savvy, and perceptive software professional (who would eventually become his wife). Ron and Jeanne (Skettino) married and moved to Concord, MA over 30 years ago, where they raised two children, AJ and Nikki Bott, two dogs and multiple cats. During AJ’s and Nikki’s childhoods, Ron was always their biggest fan and could be heard enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines at AJ’s sporting events or applauding the loudest at Nikki’s recitals. This same enthusiasm and support for their endeavors continued into their adult lives.
After more than a decade in the corporate world, Ron was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. He eventually left the corporate world, after which he started, invested in, and sold several successful small businesses, before retiring a few years ago. Ron was hoping to travel more and enjoy his hobbies. He was an avid Boston and Florida State sports fan and could out-talk any sports radio host with his knowledge of these teams. Ron also was a huge fan of golf. He loved to get out to the golf course as often as he could and made many great memories with his golf buddies. COVID and cancer interrupted some of his retirement plans. Yet, despite this, Ron and Jeanne managed to take a few memorable trips, and Ron created his own backyard oasis, complete with a putting green, where Jimmy Buffet tunes and Red Sox broadcasts were always playing in the background (apologies to the neighbors).
To know Ron was to know that he was committed to serving the community. He sat on the boards of many philanthropic organizations, including White Pond Associates, which managed the White Pond Beach and surrounding lands. This position was especially meaningful to Ron as the pond was a favorite destination for walks with his two dogs, Kirby and Millie. He was also president and a board member for the Nature Connection, an organization that brings nature to those who need it most. But most of Ron’s philanthropic work was devoted to Rotary.
Ron leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Jeanne Skettino, two children, AJ and Nikki Bott of Concord, a brother and sister-in-law Larry and Kathy Butt of Northfield NH, a brother Richard Butt of Melrose MA, a nephew Brian Butt of Northfield, NH, a niece Sarah Delia of Clarkston MI , her husband John and their two boys, as well as Jeanne’s extended family.