On May 2, 2017, Donald H. Bott, Colonel, USAF (ret), of Tucson, AZ, and formerly of Lower Saucon Township, died peacefully at home at the age of 85. Born in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late Herman and Mary (Driscoll) Bott, and the husband of Miriam (Johnson) Bott.
Colonel Bott attended Lehigh University and later served as a faculty adviser for the Kappa Alpha Society. Colonel Bott had a distinguished 29-year career in the U.S. Air Force serving as a command pilot in a variety of assignments, including 69 combat missions over Vietnam and at HQ European Command. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. His second career was as Executive Director of the Lehigh University Alumni Association, where he served for twelve years.
He is survived by his wife, son Chris and his wife Shelley Boyd, daughter Suzanne and son Timothy, granddaughters Emily and Haley, and many nieces and nephews, including Nikhil Bott, Lehigh class of 2000.
Burial is planned to be in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Don may be sent to Pet Partners of Southern Arizona and the Lehigh University Alumni Association. He was dearly loved and is deeply missed.
This obituary was taken in part from the Morning Call, published May 7, 2017.
Read more about Colonel Bott in the Lehigh news.