Stewart R. Mott, 70, Offbeat Philanthropist, Dies

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Published: June 14, 2008

Stewart R. Mott, a philanthropist whose gifts to progressive and sometimes offbeat causes were often upstaged by his eccentricities, like cultivating a farm with 460 plant species (including 17 types of radishes), a chicken coop and a compost pile, atop his Manhattan penthouse, died Thursday night. He was 70 and had homes in North Salem, N.Y. and Bermuda....

Mr. Mott’s philanthropy included birth control, abortion reform, sex research, arms control, feminism, civil liberties, governmental reform, gay rights and research on extrasensory perception.

His political giving, often directed against incumbent presidents, was most visible. In 1968, he heavily bankrolled Senator Eugene McCarthy’s challenge to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Four years later, he was the biggest contributor to Senator George McGovern, the Democratic presidential nominee.

When Charles W. Colson, the White House chief counsel to President Richard M. Nixon, included Mr. Mott in the famed “enemies list,” Mr. Colson said of him, “nothing but big money for radic-lib candidates.”...


(Chester Higgins Jr./NYT)
Stewart R. Mott

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/us/14mott.html?adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1213463003-aEYyaYMd3VSX5bznCpfDjg&pagewanted=all

[coffeenap]

1. Very cool guy--helped to fund some amazing projects

I was involved with way back when. Good bye and thank you, sir.

[ret5hd]

2. I'm sure we can expect 48-72 hours of mourning, wailing, and self-flagellation...

from our esteemed members of the press, right? He was a good man, devoted to his ideals, right? So why is it that i expect this article to be the only mention of him i see this week?

[navarth]

6. Right Fucking On

When Saint Reagan died, the deification was nonstop for WEEKS. Don't anybody try and tell me he did more good in the world than Mr. Mott.

RIP, Mr. Mott. Angels fly thee to thy rest.

[Flaxbee]

3. I just saw this - what an interesting man

I hate to lose another 'good one' -

Rest in peace, Mr. Mott

[Bob Dobbs]

4. Now THIS is a guy I can mourn.

RIP Stewart.
Thanks for actually doing good in this world.

[Baby Snooks]

5. Such a wonderful man..

Those who met him never forgot him. He was visionary rather than eccentric. And really put his money to good use. And probably enjoyed it when his doing so irritated his "social" peers. Which it often did.

There's a new bright star in the heavens.

[drm604]

7. K&R

At least this will get some attention here if nowhere else.

[progressive_realist]

8. It's a strange world we live in

Where growing a garden is considered eccentric behavior.

[xxqqqzme]

9. I guess I'm really 'eccentric'.

I have TWO composters in my back yard.

[nam78_two]

12. Heh-you have a point.nt

[DUlover2909]

21. That's a cool eagle logo: Our candidate is just CHANGE

sweet.

[That Is Quite Enough]

10. I don't really know who this guy is, but he sounds like a good man

RIP, Mr. Mott.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. I posted the OP, but don't know as much as I should. I hope someone here...

who might have had a connection to him, or have more knowledge, might write a personal remembrance.

[nam78_two]

11. K&R.nt

[Snotcicles]

14. Was he the son of Charles Stewart Mott ? if he is, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. nt

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Yes --

"Stewart Rawlings Mott was born on Dec. 4, 1937, in Flint, Mich. He was the son of Charles Stewart Mott and the former Ruth Rawlings, Mr. Mott’s fourth wife. They also had two daughters."

What was the father's story?

[Snotcicles]

16. LINK

http://www.heartland.org/pdf/64134b.pdf

[Snotcicles]

17. I was born in Flint C S Mott was loved by all. nt

[Kolesar]

19. I recognize the foundation as a sponsor of National Public Radio

!

[navarth]

23. The Motts, Michael Moore...Flint should be proud

was Mott auto money? what did he do to get rich?

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Fascinating! Thank you. nt

[Overseas]

18. Sounds like a wonderful fellow. My condolences to his friends & family.

[provis99]

22. he's the type of guy the Republicans hate the most

Like FDR, he was a rich guy who turned against his own wealthy class, earning himself a blackmark among the Republican feudal class. But with me, he earns high marks.

[besidemyself]

24. The most interesting man I almost met

Last year, I ran across Stewart Mott's listing on a dating
site; thus began a lively conversation via the Web and
telephone. I gather that Steward loved women, so it isn't
surprising that he invited me to visit him in Bermuda. I would
have taken him up on it, but I became ill and only this week
came across his profile and was about to drop him a note. I'm
terribly sorry to hear of his passing. He was truly one of the
good guys.

Roberta
Chapel Hill, NC

[DeepModem Mom]

25. Wow, besidemyself/Roberta -- great story! Welcome to DU!

[burrowowl]

26. RIP Mott!

What a Guy!

[flashl]

27. RIP, Mr. Mott. nt

[NealPetersen]

28. A sad loss

I new Stewart personally for many, many years. He was one of the most generous men. He opened up his home in Bermuda to my family and I, and his heart. He was lonely in his later years, unable to move around easily due to his knees going, but he sure new how to engage people. Had so many in-depth political discussions. He was a supporter of change, positive change and held my feet to the fire in our discussions. He was eccentric, but he too had a brilliant mind. He hated the Bushes and did what he could to fund the ACLU and other organizations. He will be missed.

[DeepModem Mom]

30. I was so hoping to hear from someone who knew Mr. Mott! Thank you...

for posting, and welcome to DU!

If at some point you might want to post a personal remembrance, maybe in the General Discussion forum, I think it would be valuable here. As you can see from posts in this thread, this is the first some of us have heard about Stewart Mott; others of us know more, but I'm sure would appreciate a first person view of this fine man.

[NuttyFluffers]

29. wow, one of the coolest sounding guys i never heard about.

and now he's gone. how sad. well, bumpity bump for more people to appreciate him!
:kick: