Tracy Mott

Tracy Land Mott, beloved stepfather, friend, and scholar, of Denver, passed away on November 4, 2021 at the age of 75. Tracy was born to Albert and Sara Louise Mott and raised in Memphis, TN. After graduating from Princeton University in 1968, he lived in New York City, where he worked for city, federal, and community agencies and received his M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary. In 1982 he graduated with a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University where he worked closely with his advisor Donald Harris. During the pandemic, he enjoyed reconnecting with his former graduate student colleagues via Zoom. After graduation, Tracy was an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was known to bring his guitar to class and cook barbecue for his students in his backyard. He later went on to become an Associate Professor, Professor, and Chair of the Economics Department at the University of Denver. He was a well-respected scholar of Keynesian Economics and mentored countless students and junior scholars over his 40-year career as a professor. Tracy was generous with his family, friends, colleagues, and students. He cared passionately about social and economic justice, donating his time and money to progressive and liberal causes like the fight for a living wage. He was also a great lover of music, particularly classic country, and entertained friends and family by playing the guitar and harmonica and singing. Tracy loved all animals and watching baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves. Anyone who knew Tracy knew that he was kind and cared deeply about other people, issues of equality and was always eager to help others whenever possible. Tracy was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his stepchildren Wendy Bartlo and her family of Champaign, IL and Bret Bartlo and his wife of Denver, CO. He and Bret were particularly close, and Bret provided much care and companionship to Tracy in his final years. He is additionally survived by many dear cousins and friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Colorado Humane Society or the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. There will be a celebration of Tracy's life at a later date.