Since his passing early Sunday morning, R. Scudder Smith is already terribly missed by his cherished family members, his legion of surviving friends, as well as countless colleagues, employees, and business acquaintances he came to know while pursuing his passions of community journalism, antiques, and folk art.

In life, Scudder Smith was not an easy man to miss.

If it wasn’t one of his meticulously trussed bow ties that caught your eye, or his intent gaze that could pierce in a moment of gravity, or twinkle joyously as he heard or delivered the punch line to a joke or amusing anecdote, it was his stride.

Up to his final days, Scudder carried himself like the US Marine and proud community leader he came to be over the better part of his 87 years. Whether he was approaching the scene of a news-making event, a display showcase or exhibit at an antiques show or auction, or just making his way around town and into the office, up until his most recent visits just weeks ago, Scudder approached every destination with purpose.

Scudder did not engage in a remote way. He chose instead to connect with whatever he was doing very directly. And he represented the best of his generation as an exemplary model for generations to come.

His “first in, last out” work ethic continues to inspire the employees who have worked for decades at 5 Church Hill Road. The light in Scudder’s office was very often the first one on each morning and the last turned off at night. If he wasn’t working in the newspaper’s office, he was very often on the road with wife Helen, continuing their passion for finding and reporting on antiques shows, auctions, and similar events. Upon returning to town, it was right back to work, often six days a week.

Through most of his life, his direct and thoughtful engagement was embraced by organizations including the New England Newspaper & Press Association, which inducted Scudder Smith into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame like his father, Paul, before him — and the Antiques Dealers Association of America (ADA), which honored Scudder with its Award of Merit for his contribution to the industry that has been substantially shaped by his Antiques and The Arts Weekly.

Before and since, he received other awards too numerous to mention here, and was similarly the recipient of many gestures of recognition locally and nationally.

In 1964, shortly after returning home to Newtown from serving his country and completing his college education, Scudder was recognized as an “Outstanding Young Man” by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce. Since then, he actively immersed himself in local service, support, and volunteerism, engaging with organizations including, but not limited to Newtown Hook & Ladder, Village Cemetery Association, Rotary Club of Newtown, Newtown Men’s Club, and the Newtown Historical Society.

When he wasn’t chasing antiques or the next story for one of his papers, Scudder enjoyed creating elaborate gardens designed with vintage structures and garden antiques. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the community in that regard, was overseeing the development and ongoing maintenance of The Pleasance, the privately owned park at the intersection of Main and Sugar Street that welcomes the public to escape and take pleasure in its breathtaking landscaping, gorgeous flora, meandering walkways, eclectic sculptures, fountain, gazebo, bocce court, and children’s Bunny Garden.

We occasionally heard from people after they ran into Scudder at 1 Main Street. They would often be floored to learn that the kind man they spent a few minutes talking to while he was pulling weeds or straightening some plants was also the owner of the beautiful property and publisher of the local newspaper.

Scudder, we should not forget, was also an animal lover who was showered with attentiveness and affection by the many pets he kept and welcomed both in his home and office. His arrival through the front door of the office was often followed in short order by as many as three dogs barking and tumbling over each other as they raced to be in his presence. Many a sandwich was carried from Scudder’s kitchen to his desk, with the clear intention of being shared with the many “best friends” who would lay at his feet awaiting the moment he began unwrapping his lunch.

He was not the kind of man one could describe in one word, but venerable may come close. Throughout his life, and in the brief few days since Scudder left us, he was accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of his experience, wisdom, and character, along with a generous dose of goodness and benevolence.

In order for his family and staff to attend services on Friday, August 19, the offices of Bee Publishing Company will be closed for business. His family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honor Scudder Smith’s passing consider making a donation in his name to: Newtown Scholarship Association, PO Box 302, Newtown, CT 06470; Town of Newtown Animal Control, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT 06470; or FAITH Food Pantry of Newtown, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470.

It seems appropriate that R. Scudder Smith be remembered in part, with the words first penned in the 1920s by his great uncle and then Newtown Bee Editor Allison P. Smith, whose poem “The Friendly Kindly Man” begins: “I love the friendly kindly man, Who in his daily walk does all the good he can.”

In the spirit of R. Scudder Smith, may we all reflect that goodness always.