Councilmember Bob Scott, Lifelong Champion of Kettering, Passes Away

KETTERING, OHIO - Aug. 11, 2026 - Bob Scott measured his life not in titles but in the people he served, the young athletes he coached, and the community he never stopped fighting for - and today Kettering mourns the loss of its District 2 City Councilman. To know Bob was to know someone who carried the City of Kettering with him everywhere: in his memory, in his loyalties, and in the countless hours he gave to its people. Few have loved this city more completely, or expressed that love in so many ways.

Bob died on the morning of Aug. 11, 2026, at the age of 68. His Kettering roots ran three generations deep. His family made the city home in 1942 and Bob grew up in the Southern Hills neighborhood, attended Kettering City Schools and graduated from Kettering Fairmont West in 1976.

Bob cared deeply about Kettering's future. He was a champion of the city's small businesses and a tireless advocate for economic development and redevelopment. He watched over Kettering's financial health with genuine devotion, always pushing to foster responsible growth for the community.

Bob was first elected to Kettering City Council in 2021 and re-elected in 2023, representing District 2 across roughly six years of elected service. He gave his energy to a long list of committees and boards, including Finance & Personnel, Public Service, Public Health & Safety, Long Range Planning, and Community Relations & Promotions. He represented the City on the Kettering Development Corporation, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the Wilmington Pike Economic Improvement Task Force, served as a delegate to the Miami Valley Communications Council, and sat on the Greene County Waste Water Advisory Committee. In 2025, he sought the office of mayor, a measure of how deeply he wanted to serve the place he loved.

That devotion was decades in the making. Before and throughout his years in public office, Bob built a career spanning more than 40 years in electronics distribution and manufacturing supporting the military aerospace industry. He rose to general manager of a formerly Kettering-based company, held senior management positions at Fortune 500 aerospace suppliers overseeing operations with hundreds of employees, and owned a Kettering-based service and consulting company.

But those who knew Bob best knew where his heart truly lived: in Kettering's gyms, on its ballfields, and alongside its young people. He was an active member of the Dor-Wood Optimist Club, where he helped coordinate the club's Tri-Star Youth Basketball Tournament, and he was a longtime basketball coach and official who gave countless hours to young athletes, including his own children and grandchildren, at the Kettering Recreation Complex and beyond. The City of Kettering also honored him as a longtime volunteer. A devoted sports fan to the end, he reserved his deepest loyalty for his beloved Kettering Fairmont Firebirds.

"I don't think anyone cared more about Kettering and its success than Bob did. He grew up here, he built his life here, and he never stopped giving back to the place that raised him. Bob had an encyclopedic memory, especially when it came to sports - he was a rabid Fairmont fan who rarely, if ever, missed a football or basketball game. But what I'll remember most is the way he loved this community - fully, loyally, and with his whole heart. Whether he was fighting for a local business or cheering on the Firebirds, Bob gave Kettering everything he had. We were lucky to have him, and we will miss him deeply," said Matt Greeson, Kettering City Manager.

Bob Scott gave Kettering his memory, his loyalty, and his time - and asked for nothing in return but the chance to keep giving. The young athletes he coached, the businesses he championed, and the neighbors who found in him a genuine advocate will carry his influence forward for years to come.

The City of Kettering extends its heartfelt condolences to the entire Scott family. Bob is survived by his wife, Letty; their three children, Rob, Lauren, and Sarah; and four grandchildren, Brayden, Jax, Lucas, and Annie.

His son, Rob, Kettering Clerk of Courts and a former Vice Mayor and City Councilman, shared the following tribute:

"My father loved the City of Kettering and Kettering City Schools with all his heart. Kettering wasn't just where he lived - it was his home, his community and his passion. He spent countless hours giving back to the people he cared about, whether coaching young athletes at the Kettering Recreation Center, officiating basketball games, volunteering through the Kettering Dor-Wood Optimist Club, or serving six years on Kettering City Council. He believed serving others was one of life's greatest callings. He took pride in helping young people succeed, strengthening the community he loved and making Kettering a better place for future generations. His legacy is not measured by titles or accomplishments, but by the lives he touched, the friendships he built and the lasting impact he left on the city he loved so deeply. Of all the people whose lives he influenced, there is no one he impacted more than me. I was blessed to call him my father, and I carry his lessons, his love for this community, and his commitment to helping others with me every day."

Bob Scott will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him and the community he served. Information regarding services and memorial arrangements will be shared as it becomes available.