Roger J. Shott

Dr. Roger J. Shott, 86, of Louisville, Passed away at his residence on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
We knew Roger's condition had become serious when he began to lose volume and coherence. He had moved to Memory Care at the Masonic Home in March of 2023. He was born in Buffalo, New York, The son of John G. Shott (an Economist for the US Government) and Mildred Hollander Shott, Secretarial Professor at George Washington University.
Roger grew up in Washington D.C. and was known for namedropping his educational opportunities, notably Sidwell Friends and then Swarthmore College where he met his future wife, Diane. They married ½ way thru medical school at U of VA in Charlottsville. Residency in Pediatrics (Roger had begged his mother for a baby brother, but she said one Roger was enough) was at U of Michigan in Ann Arbor. That qualified Roger for the "Berry Plan" when the Army preferred doctors who had completed a specialty, so he was assigned to care for dependents at Fort Belvoir, VA.
For further education Roger did a fellowship at U of Louisville, under Dr. Billy Andrews. His first paying job was at Syracuse University. After 3 ½ years of regulations to get a sink moved to the opposite wall, Roger was happy to accept Larry Cook's (one of his fellow Fellows) request to return to Louisville to set up the fist Neonatal Transport System. He designed and had built a van to work on sick infants from around the state while they came to U of L for specialized care. It was called the 'Baby Buggy'. Next was fixed wing aircraft, similarly outfitted, but today neonatal wards have improved all over the state, so the child can be stabilized before transport and working during bumpy travel is eliminated.
Roger and Larry also appreciated access to Kentucky's Health Departments successfully lobbying for insurance payments to support premature babies families from birth. Previously they had to live 5 days before qualifying.
Roger also became interested in the detrimental use of drugs during pregnancy, and did some educational talks around the state. In his final years of practice he devised U of L's student education plan, at the time of many people's 1st experience with computers.
After retirement, Roger had time to serve on such boards as the Nature Conservancy of Kentucky, The Kentucky Resources Council, and several terms as president of our local Trout Unlimited. To keep up with Diane, He also learned to ride on a littler black Tennessee walking horse he named 'Clyde The Glide'. He Enjoyed bird hunting, never shooting anything with big soft eyes, and especially fishing, "If the water's wet, I'll fish it!" Trips to Montana and to Apalachicola, Florida fed this fixation. His little boat was moored at Taylorsville Lake for many years. He was always careful of his health, no longer dove hunting with guys who drank and took every inoculation available. Roger leaves several favorite cousins, His wife Diane, and two good sons, Eric (Lisa) and Brian (Wendy). There are two grand dogs, and the rescue he said is the best dog he's owned, Little Wilson.
Please join us on Wednesday, September 24, for Roger J. Shott's Celebration of Life, from 4pm to 7pm in the Artisan Room at the Meadow Active Lifestyle Community, 140 Masonic Home Drive, Louisville, KY 40041. Light refreshments will be served. Attire is casual. Program: Event begins at 4pm. 5pm to 6:15pm: Family and friends will remember the life and career of Dr. Shott. Parking immediately next to the venue is limited; visitors who don't wish to walk from more distant lots are encouraged to arrive early. The Artisan Room is directly to the right as you enter the Meadow building. RSVPs are encouraged by Sept. 15; please email brian.shott@gmail.com.
The family is grateful to the compassionate caretakers at the Masonic Home.
Contributions can be made in his honor to the Nature Conservancy of KY or KY Resources Council.
Pearson Funeral Directors are honored to be serving the Shott family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.pearsonfuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roger, please visit our floral store.