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FAREWELL DEAR FRIEND: DAVID SMITH 1925-2015

January 5, 2015

It is with great sadness we advise you of the passing of our beloved member emeritus David J. A.Smith on January 2, 2015.   David has been a member of CHS for more than 30 years, serving as president and many other volunteer capacities.   Most notably, Mr. Smith was tireless in his devotion to raising funds for horticultural scholars and sharing his gardening knowledge with novices and professionals alike. David has a CHS Horticultural Scholarship designated in his honor that is awarded annually.

Memorial contributions may be made to Connecticut Horticultural Society (in honor of  David J. A. Smith)  c/o CHS, 2433 Main Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2569.

A memorial service was Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 1:00pm at St. Michael’s Church, 25 South Street, Litchfield. Kindly visit www.rowefuneralhome.net to send the family an online condolence. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=david-j-a-smith&pid=173723186&fhid=4345#sthash.rvFvcu22.dpuf

Our members shared these thoughts:

“(David) seemed truly immortal to many of us, and in the true spirit of CHS, he certainly is because of his extensive gardening knowledge that he shared with all of us, and also because of the many wonderful plants he shared with us and which we bought at the auction through the years.  I will always cherish with fond memories of David’s primula ‘Wanda’, his lovely astilbes, and the yellow iris he said was no longer available in the trade.  These are the plants that make our garden special – a garden full of many memories and plants from many special gardeners who have enriched our lives.”~ Nancy J.

“David, Ken and I became friends (through CHS Flower Show volunteering)  and we learned so much from him…He was a perfect English gentleman and yet not afraid to get his hands dirty. We will miss David, the digging parties, the quiche lunches and the stories. ” Joan & Ken S.
“My personal recollection of David is that he was the first speaker for the Syracuse (NY) Men’s Garden Club seminar about eighteen years ago.  In spite of his prominence in the horticultural world, he was a down to earth, approachable, generous person.  It was a thrill for me to get to my first CHS meeting and see him there.”~Ben N.
” There are bits of David Smith all over the world because of the  knowledge and the plants he shared.  As he instructed, we divided hundreds of perennials out of his garden  for our scholarship auctions. He was patient and firm on the proper way to be in his garden. On auction night bidders competed hotly after hearing David’s stories of the provenance of plants he had brought to his own garden and to White Flower Farm. David congratulated this years  CHS scholarship winners and handed them magnolia seeds from his garden… His passion for gardening  and sharing it is an example for us all.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=david-j-a-smith&pid=173723186&fhid=4345

 

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Connecticut Horticultural Society
P.O. Box 330966
West Hartford, CT 06133-0966

Phone: 860-529-8713
E-mail: [email protected]

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