Like so many of our Deep Riverites, I am saddened beyond words by the sudden and truly tragic death of our dear First Selectman Dick Smith.
Few among us are not aware of how he labored continuously for years and years for the physical improvement of our town in so many ways as well as the enhancement of life for all of us who call this home.
The question now is, what would be a meaningful and enduring memorial to remind us and those who will follow us of his great efforts?
Suggestions will come up, I’m sure. And the more, the better.
I would like to propose one right now. Simple. I suggest re-naming our Plattwood Park “The First Selectman Dick Smith Memorial Park.”
After all, I for one have no idea why it was ever called Plattwood. That has no emotional or historic pizzazz for me. If it does for you, please let me know. But I would find calling it the Dick Smith Park very powerful.
As we know so well, it was Dick who spear-headed the transformation of Plattwood from a weedy, don’t-bother-to-look-at-it-twice waterhole to the great and beautiful recreational complex that it is today—and with the ambitious work still going on. A park that is the envy of many other small towns, which have become aware of it!
I further propose that a big, handsome boulder chosen with care from the quarry next door be set at the very entrance to the Dick Smith Park. With a bronze plaque set into its face that would have both a smiling profile of Dick, yes, in genuine bronze, plus our words of praise and pride and thanks. He’s earned them.
Thus would his love of Deep River and his long and record-setting career of service for our town (and us) be proclaimed to all who enter the park. He deserves no less.
One more thought: we might organize a tribute-writing contest for the plaque. We have a lot of talent in town …
A maximum number of abc’s (words and spaces) would be allowed for the plaque.
The especially appointed plaque committee would reserve the right to select the best submission in whole. Or, if it chooses, just thoughts and phrases from the top three submissions, say. With these best thoughts and phrases to be assembled into a final, terrific composite. Of course, prizes would be awarded.
After all, those are the words that would be read by all entering our wonderful Dick Smith Park for decades and decades to come.
I suspect Dick is in a place where he’d be aware of this going on and would break out into an even bigger smile.
P.S. A very fine chairman for this committee would be Rev. Tim Haut. A very fine member would be Jonathan Kastner. I would ask for recommendations for another three, say. Making sure there would be at least two women. One of these would be our fine local professional writer and editor Christine Woodside.
Editor’s Note: This is the opinion of John Guy LaPlante.
