John Herbert Klote

John Herbert Klote, 83, of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away on May 29th. He is survived by his beloved wife Bettie (Milner), son John Frederick Klote, daughter‑in‑law Svetlana, sister Mary Christine Moore and brother Paul DiBlasi. He was pre-deceased by parents Marcine Denver Klote and Nelda (Clausen) Klote DiBlasi, brother James Denver Klote and sister Francine Nelda DiBlasi.

Born in Detroit on February 24, 1943, John was one of five children, including Chris, Jim, Paul, and Fran. Music was a gift many in the family shared, but not John; he was tone‑deaf, a fact he embraced with humor. Instead, John found his calling in engineering, encouraged early on by his brother‑in‑law, Bob Moore. It became a lifelong pursuit fueled by curiosity and a desire to solve hard problems that made a difference in people’s lives.

Above all, John loved his family. He always looked forward to trips and family gatherings. John loved to talk and exchange ideas, and was never without his warm smile and easygoing nature. He was a student of American history, regularly reading the latest historical biographies and memoirs, and he loved sharing what he learned and little-known facts. He took particular joy in watching the next generation grow, especially his grandchildren, and never missed a chance to be part of their lives. Alongside his devotion to family, John built a remarkable career in smoke‑control engineering. John was a leading global expert whose research, books and teaching shaped how buildings are designed to protect people during fires.

John earned his BS from the University of Michigan, followed by an MS and, in 1986, a doctorate in mechanical engineering from George Washington University. He began his career with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) in 1967, designing HVAC systems for Navy buildings worldwide and later serving as senior cost engineer on the new Bethesda Naval Hospital. In 1970, he traveled to Antarctica as part of the National Science Foundation’s Operation Deep Freeze, inspecting research facilities at both McMurdo Station and the South Pole. Working in those extreme conditions, where temperatures and engineering challenges were unlike anywhere else on earth, became one of the most memorable and defining experiences of his early career.

From 1978 to 1997, John was a Project Leader at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), conducting full‑scale fire experiments and helping bring early computer smoke‑movement models into practical use. His research on elevator-use during fires led directly to changes in the national fire‑safety code, and he contributed to investigations of smoke movement for both the MGM Grand and the First Interstate Bank fires. During his two decades at NIST, he became a leading voice in smoke control engineering, authoring reports and shaping practices that are still used today.

In 1997, John founded his own consulting firm, and in 2008 he shifted into teaching and writing full time. He developed smoke control courses for the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and taught global workshops. John was the lead author and editor-in-chief of the widely used Handbook of Smoke Control Engineering. He co‑authored Principles of Smoke Management with James A. Milke and Design of Smoke Control Systems for Buildings with John W. Fothergill. In addition, he published more than 90 papers and was a Fellow of both SFPE and ASHRAE, continuing to write and teach well into his late seventies.

He will be deeply missed - not only for all he accomplished, but for his warmth, curiosity, and kindness. A private service will be held for his family and loved ones.

The family welcomes donations to fire‑safety and engineering education charities, including the SFPE Foundation and ASHRAE Foundation, in John’s honor.