Joseph Nathaniel Lott

Joe led a life rooted in service, leadership, and intellectual curiosity. Born in Mississippi, he enlisted in the Marines at age 19 and served for 21 years, retiring as a Major. His most consequential assignment was embassy guard duty in Belgrade, where he met the ambassador’s daughter—the love of his life—Deborah Anne Leonhart. During his time with the Marines, Joe earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. He served as an artillery officer and manpower analyst for the majority of his career and was assigned to posts at the Headquarters Marine Corps, in California, and in Okinawa, Japan.

Following his military service, Joe began his career in the private sector as a program manager for decision support systems and taught at the graduate level. Next, he held senior leadership roles in the financial services and technology sectors, including executive positions at SRA International, Tandem, Compaq, and Hewlett-Packard. Throughout his professional life, Joe was defined by his ability to build genuine relationships, easily turning colleagues into lifelong friends.

In 2009, Joe founded The Lott Family, LLC, a residential real estate development and investment company. Later in life, he embarked on what he often called his fourth career: art collector and dealer. Following in the footsteps of his esteemed father-in-law, Joe curated an extensive collection of Japanese woodblock prints under the banner Art-Eclectic. True to his generous and curious nature, he took great joy in sharing his knowledge and passion with fellow collectors and laypeople alike.

Service was always central to Joe’s identity. He was a proud member of Rotary International, serving twice as President of the Arlington Rotary Club and holding various district leadership roles. He particularly enjoyed supporting the Arlington Rotary Educational Foundation, directing more than $100,000 in scholarships to local students. In recognition of his commitment, he received the Arlington Inter-Service Club Council Community Leader Award in 2014.

Joe was a man of many passions. He ran marathons in his younger years and organized community races while stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, CA. He spent years studying his family’s genealogy, tracing it back to the 1600s. He loved music and film, often waxing poetic about his favorite works and performers, and rarely tired of exploring new museums or trying new restaurants. He proudly wore his vast collection of art ties, passing on his love of painting to his daughters via many “artist identification” quizzes. In his later years, he sent a wide-ranging daily news digest to friends and family, which earned its fair share of dedicated readers.

Many will remember Joe as a survivor of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Joe narrowly missed being in the wrong place at the wrong time thanks to the gift of an art tie from his good friend Elaine Greenberg. During his dramatic escape, he continued to serve others, assisting strangers and friends alike. Despite the pain of reliving it, he generously shared his harrowing story for the rest of his life. https://www.nj.com/njv_kathleen_obrien/2011/09/911_gift_tie_saves_life_of_new.html

Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Deborah Leonhart Lott; his daughters, Kathleen Devon Lott Smith (Ryan Smith), Samantha Marion Lott Smith, and Alyssa Josephine Lott (Tom Reed); and his grandchildren, Courtney Smith, Tyler Smith, Nathaniel Smith, and Elise Smith. He was deeply proud of his family and found his greatest joy in watching them grow and succeed.

A memorial celebrating Joe’s life will take place at Murphy Funeral Home in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 2-4 PM ET. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Arlington Rotary Foundation Educational Foundation, in keeping with Joe’s lifelong commitment to service and education.

Joe’s legacy lives on in the people he befriended, the communities he served, and the family he loved. He will be remembered for his passions, his intellect, and his unwavering sense of responsibility to others.