Name: Visitation for Scott R. Smedley
Start: 2017-10-21T13:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-10-21T15:00:00.000Z
Location: Avery St. Christian Reformed Church

Scott R. Smedley, 54, of Andover, CT, beloved husband of Melanie (Spencer) Smedley, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 10, at Hartford Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer. Scott was born in February of 1963 at Selfridge Air Force Base in Harrison Township, MI to the late Barry Rodman and Mary (Robinson) Smedley. The family moved to Centerville, MA on Cape Cod soon thereafter and Scott grew up there exploring the beaches and woodlands. From an early age, Scott displayed an affinity for the natural world and the sciences; by high school he was performing a detailed inventory of the moths and butterflies of Cape Cod for the natural history museum there. Scott attended Williams College in Williamstown, MA, graduating with a B.A. cum laude in 1985. He earned a Ph.D. in chemical ecology from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1993, followed by four years of postdoctoral fellowship at the Cornell Institute for Research in Chemical Ecology. He and Melanie were married in 1997 and moved to Bolton, CT as Scott started his job as a Professor of Biology at Trinity College, Hartford, CT. They later moved to Andover, CT and children Drew (13) and Lydia (10) were born. Scott's teaching and research in the biological sciences has ranged from insect chemical ecology to invertebrate zoology, vertebrate animal visits to compost piles, and winter ecology. He was beloved by students and colleagues alike, and was enthusiastic about involving students in research and field work, such as nighttime forays for fireflies. Scott has been active in their church, Avery Street Christian Reformed, and in the Andover Boy Scout troop with Drew. His greatest love was his family, including extended family. He was steadfast in his faith in Jesus and confident in his eternal security. He is predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Melanie, his son Drew, and daughter Lydia. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Kent and Neucimari Smedley, his aunts Patricia Turnbull and Nancy Morrell, and numerous cousins. Scott's family will receive friends at the Avery St. Christian Reformed Church 661 Avery St. South Windsor on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 9:00-11:00 AM with a Funeral Service to follow at 11:00 AM. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: World Renew 1700 28th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168. Please visit us online at www.carmonfuneralhome.com for online condolences and guestbook.

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Published by Hartford Courant on Oct. 17, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Scott Smedley

Sponsored by the family.

13 Entries

Bailey D'Antonio

December 14, 2017

Smeds' kindness will never be forgotten. He was an amazing professor and very caring person. He greatly influenced my decision to major in biology and I am lucky that I had the privilege to be his student.

Poyau

November 25, 2017

May the memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always. Hosea 13:13

Kate Loudon

October 24, 2017

I was so sorry to hear the sad news about Scott. I knew Scott at Cornell, when he was a graduate student and I was a postdoc. I really liked Scott - a smart and kind man. We were all fortunate to know him. My condolences to his family.

Elise Brown

October 24, 2017

I did not know Scott well at Williams but admired his gentleness, curiousity and zeal in the biology classes we took together.
Sending my condolensces,
Elise Brown, '85

David Henderson

October 22, 2017

Scott was such a wonderful colleague. He arranged for the Chemistry Department to get an ICP spectrometer through his contacts at Cornell, and that prompted a whole range of research project and led to our getting another unit a few years later based on our work with the first one. His initial effort catalyzed a wide range of environmental science and chemistry projects.
Scott was also generous with his time when I was writing material related to ecology, and proof read some of my work.
And I very much enjoyed several opportunities to collaborate on his research.
Scott was so kind and generous. Trinity College will miss him deeply.

October 21, 2017

Dear Melanie, please accept my deepest condolences for your family's loss. Scott and I were house mates in Ithaca for six years between 1989 and 1995. My fondest memory is learning from him how to make ice cream using a hand-cranked ice cream machine that he had purchased on a yard sale soon after we moved in together. He would collect fruits and berries in the summer, freeze them, and then create the most incredible fruit ice cream medleys during winter storms. He was a companion, teacher, and friend. I had the privilege to join him on one of his trips to Pennsylvania to watch and collect the puddling moths that were central to his PhD work. Scott was one of the most polite people I have ever met. I am sorry for your loss and wish you strength for the years ahead.

Ulmar Grafe, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Cathy Campen

October 20, 2017

My prayers are with you and your family.

Peter Doucette

October 19, 2017

I remember freshman year at Williams when I came into Scott's room in Fayerwether House and he wouldn't let me get rid of the ants that were all over his floor. He was studying them. No surprise years later when he showed me his insect lab at Trinity. My condolences. Scott was a very kind soul.

Scott on left, colleague Steve Deyrup next. Taipei, Taiwan, April 2017

Lynn Faust

October 19, 2017

Scott Smedley was the very best sort of person, a fine, fine man--a family man, friend, scientist and teacher. We had worked on firefly projects long distance for the past 3 years. I loved the story above from Craig Lemunyon about the chair with rolling wheels, the smashed knees and Scott remaining true to himself. That was pure Scott! Melanie asked me to pass on the sad news to the Firefly World who were in Taiwan with Scott last April. Below are some of their responses. I am not sure which ones were passed directly on to Melanie too, so here is a compilation of our condolences and love to the family. The photo is Scott (from left), colleague Steve Deyrup, their two students Nicole and Maddie and other fireflyers (Martin Novak, Radim Schreiver, Lynn Faust, Fred Vencl) at the opening dinner in Taipei Taiwan at the International Firefly Symposium this past April 2017. They presented such exciting work. Scott will be missed on every level by so many. Prayers and comfort, Lynn Faust

Dear Fireflyers, Scott was optimistic and fought hard to the end. I talked to him last week, and he was still thinking about fireflies and many of their unsolved mysteries. It was a great pleasure and honor for me to work with him, and I want you to know that I am dedicated to continuing his vision of examining the chemical ecology of fireflies and other insect taxa. Sincerely, Steve Deyrup, Siena College NY

I am so sorry. It was so wonderful to meet and spend time with Scott in Taiwan. Such a short time ago, it was my privilege to lunch together amid the posters at the zoo in Taipei . He was so robust, energetic and enthusiastic. So sad. So young. So much more to contribute in his work and to his family. Please pass my warm thoughts, deep sympathy and condolences on to Melanie and his family. Karen Lewis, Vermont

what a tragic loss! Sara Lewis, Tufts

Shock and sad. It has always been great to talk to him in email, in Skype, in person.
Memories from Taiwan are still vivid. He's a true gentleman.
I'm so sad. R.I.P. Ling (Lu Yang, Princeton)

I am glad I was able to meet Scott, and learn from him during the Taiwan meeting. All the best,-Tim Fallon, MIT

Dear Melanie & Family, Firefly friends and colleagues,
This is sad news indeed. Thanks for letting us know this fast Melanie.
A warm thought and support from Belgium to all of you in this moment of loss.
I feel privileged to have met Scott in person in Taiwan. A very good person and his research work means a lot to me.If only we'd had more time to know eachother better in relation to firefly research, as for friendship.Let's hope his colleagues will and can continue exploring for his legacy.R.I.P. Scott
Raphaël De Cock, Belgium

Wow. Such a great scientist and person. I am thankful I got to get to know him in Taiwan. He will be missed. Sarah Sander Lower, Cornell

This is so so sad! Scott was a very fine man and scientist. Thanks for sharing. Kathrin Stanger-Hall, U GA

So very sad Avalon Owens, Tufts

Sorry about Scott. Sounds like he was really a solid guy. Edgar Faust (helped with Pyropyga collections)

I'm so sorry to hear this. It's just not fair. Sorry to hear that Terrible news about Scott. You hate to lose a great researcher doing great things. I feel for his family. Laura Hughes, Mark Zloba, Chris Bedel, Edge of Appalachia, Ohio (though they never met Scott, all helped with Scott and Steves Pyropyga collections)

I remember Scott and having conversations with him in Taiwan. I believe about winter fireflies? Radim Schreiber, Iowa

Thanks, Lynn, for the sad news about Scott. I barely knew him (met in Taiwan) but he seemed to be like all firefly folks I have ever met: really decent, kind and nature-loving. Fred Vencl SUNY

Thanks for letting me know about Scott. A tragic loss in so many ways. Marc Branham, UFL

Laurie Williams Jodice

October 19, 2017

Scott and I took most of our Biology classes together at Williams. He was such a kind person. Love and prayers to his wife and children, family friends and colleagues for their loss.

Leigh Perkins

October 19, 2017

Sending a wave of love from a long-ago dorm-mate (who also shared space in the Animal Behavior lab ... better not to ask...). Today I am smiling as I recall so many moments of Scott's kindness and quiet good humor. It was clear at 18 that he was special, and I am certain he was a wonderful family man. May the warmth of your memories give you a measure of peace.

Craig LaMunyon

October 16, 2017

Scott and I spent 5 years as lab mates when we were PhD students at Cornell. Scott was one of the best people I have ever known, and our world is better due to his presence. Scott and I shared many funny moments, but one time I will always remember with great fondness and a hearty chuckle was his absolute refusal to utter a profanity. We were just sitting down for a lab meeting when Scott scooted in his chair and rammed his knees into a piece of the table's substructure that seemed to catch everyone's knees. While Scott was writhing in the immediate pain, our advisor, Tom, whose colorful language was well known, said, Say it, Scott, SAY IT!!!! Scott recovered from the pain without saying it. That was Scott - he existed on a higher plain. I am so glad that I knew him, and I am so sad that I never got to spend time with him again after those glorious years in the Eisner lab. I am sorry for your loss and hope that your grief is tempered by the knowledge that he touched the lives of so many.

Raphael De Cock

October 16, 2017

A warm thought and support from Belgium to all of you in this moment of loss.
I feel privileged to have met Scott in person in Taiwan. A very good person and his research work means a lot to me.
If only we'd had more time to know eachother better in relation to firefly research, as well as in friendship. R.I.P. Scott

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