After hearing of the passing of long-time Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith, Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder posted on Facebook, “So sad to say good-bye to a mentor, leader and friend. Rest in peace Dick, you have worked hard for Deep River, the Lower CT River Valley and Connecticut, and leave behind big shoes to fill. You will be missed.”
Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman paid tribute to Mr. Smith in a statement sent to ValleyNewsNow.com. Needleman said, “Dick was a wonderful guy. He frequently told me how much he loved his family and his job. They were the lights in his life. He managed Deep River as a family, from the staff that worked for him to the residents he loved.”
Needleman continued, “He was an amazing First Selectman (26 years, I think) and an outstanding police officer (44 years) who dedicated his life to making Deep River and the entire Connecticut River Valley the wonderful place that it is. He was a friend and mentor who listened well and made whoever he was with feel special. His love of people made him the ultimate type of public servant.”
Finally, expressing the opinion likely shared by many, he said, “I am going to really miss him.”