Dr. H. Stephen Kott passed away peacefully at his home in Wellesley Hills on January 10, 2026, at the age of 90, with his wife by his side.
Steve is survived by Anne L. Kott, his wife of 66 years; his five children, Stephen R. Kott and his partner, Stephanie Landolphi, of Westwood; Douglas G. Kott of East Orleans and Kingston; Suzanne D. (Kott) Cahill and her husband, Robert, of Boston and Naples, FL; Jeffrey W. Kott of Newton; and David L. Kott and his wife, Elizabeth, of Port Washington, NY. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Andrew T. Kott, Anna W. Kott, Megan A. Cahill, Ryan A. Cahill, James J. Kott and Stephen V. Kott.
Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Steve was the son of Hermann Kott and Helen Dancer Kott. He spent his childhood in Verona, NJ where he was valedictorian of his high school class. He was an accomplished athlete serving as Captain of his high school tennis team and also played basketball and ran track. Despite being tone deaf, he played a mean saxophone, including with the New Jersey All-State High School Band and a local dance band, the “Top Hats”.
Though he received offers from Yale and Princeton, he chose to attend the University of Michigan, where his ancestors had received degrees going back to the mid-1800s. He graduated from Michigan in three years with multiple honors, including induction into the Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies. At Michigan, he thoroughly enjoyed his time at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house, and continued close friendships with his fraternity brothers throughout his lifetime. He hitchhiked throughout the mid-west to visit friends at other colleges. While at Michigan, he won a fraternity league wrestling title, joined the tennis team, and played saxophone in the pep band. He was a fanatical Michigan Wolverines football supporter.
Following Michigan, Steve attended Columbia University and the University of Virginia, earning his MD with honors in 1960, including membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. In his limited spare time at Columbia, he and a friend painted portraits of Alfred E. Neuman and sold them in Greenwich Village flea markets for extra beer money. While at Virginia, Steve and his roommate won the 1959 national NCAA bridge title. He completed his internship, residency and neurology fellowship at the University of Minnesota, where he and his wife Anne braved near-blizzard conditions to attend Minnesota Vikings games.
Steve was drafted into the US Army during the period of heightened tensions with the Soviet Union leading up to the Cuban missile crisis. He served in South Korea in 1962 as a Captain and Battalion Surgeon and was part of a MASH unit.
In 1966, he joined the Lahey Clinic at its original Kenmore Square Boston location, founded Lahey’s Neurology Department and moved his growing family to Wellesley. He practiced neurology at Lahey for the next 40 years, serving as Department Chairman and later as Chairman Emeritus. He also joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School, where he taught neurology and served on the Massachusetts Medical Society Examiners Board, helping to assess the proficiency of aspiring new neurologists. His career was recognized with numerous honors, including the New England Deaconess Hospital Best Instructor Award, America’s Top Doctors listings, AMA Physician Recognition Award and Lahey Clinician of the Year 1993. Steve was quoted in the Boston Globe and other publications on matters pertaining to neurology. He was especially proud of his research contributions to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in the 1970-80’s. Known as an exceptionally skilled neurologist and deeply caring physician, he drew patients from around the globe to Boston for his medical opinions and care.
Although Steve’s passion and life mission was the care of his patients, he also enjoyed a rich life beyond medicine. He and Anne loved attending the Boston Symphony Orchestra, auditing classes at Anne’s alma mater, Wellesley College, attending services at the Wellesley Congregational Church, playing tennis in the Wellesley Tennis Association, and spending time with family at Nauset Beach in Orleans, MA. They cherished an active social life in Wellesley and surrounding areas and treasured their many dear friendships. Steve served on the Board of Trustees of Carleton Willard and North Hill.
Steve was a kind and gentle soul. He was exceedingly humble and self-effacing. With his ever-present smile, positive spirit and trademark chuckle, he had an innate gift for putting others at ease and making each person feel important. Generous and selfless, he delighted in helping others with any concern, illness or problem. He was deeply loved by his family, work colleagues, patients and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on January 24, 2026 at the Wellesley Congregational Church (Village Church), followed by a reception at the church. He will be interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley, MA in a private family service.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the charity of your choice. For online guestbook, gfdoherty.com. Funeral arrangements by George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.
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