Obituary

Notable educator, businessman and community leader, George Alexander Scott, died peacefully at his home with family on Monday, September 16. He was 92. George grew up in St. Andrew, Jamaica and graduated high school from Kingston College in 1946 where he captained a national championship cricket team. He was recruited by Rev. Lewis Davidson to teach, first in Kingston and then at Knox College in Clarendon parish. With Rev. Davidsons help, he secured a scholarship to attend St. Andrews university in Scotland, and in 1957 he received his degree, with honors, in psychology and moral philosophy. George returned to Jamaica and to Knox College where he eventually followed Rev. Davidson to become the second Principal of Knox College. He is well remembered and loved by many Knox alumni as a man of honor, integrity, high expectations, and endless encouragement. In 1977, George and his wife Pauline made the difficult decision to leave Jamaica to start a bakery business in Toronto, Canada. After two years, the family moved to Hartford, where they opened Hartford West Indian Bakery known as Scotts Jamaican Bakery on Albany Avenue.

More than 40 years later, the business has over 45 employees, three retail outlets and a manufacturing plant, all based in Hartford’s North End. George was passionate about improving the health of businesses, schools and community organizations in the North End. He felt that healthy institutions would improve the lives of all people in Metro Hartford, and he spent untold hours dedicated to either founding or advancing the missions of a variety of civic organizations.

At various times he served on the boards of the Old State House, the Upper Albany Merchants Association, The Hartford Courant Foundation, the advisory committee of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, St. Monicas Episcopal Church, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford Hospital, the University of Hartford, the Loomis Chaffee School, the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, the Bradley International Airport Commission, the former First Bank of West Hartford, the former West Indian Credit Union, and the former Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce. It was not unusual for him to get calls from church pastors, school principals, civic leaders, employees, past students, family members or friends asking for his calm, sage counsel. He was a problem solver and always willing to give his time to seek solutions.

In 1999, George was praised for his "deep love of Hartford" and recognized as the Hartford Courant's Business Leader of the Year. Over the years he received numerous awards, citations and letters of recognition from both civic organizations and local and state government officials, including a Distinguished Service Award from Governor M. Jodi Rell, and proclamation naming April 30, 2009 "George Scott Day in the city of Hartford" from Mayor Eddie Perez. When he had spare time, George loved to read and garden. In his early days he played cricket and tennis, and sailed and waterskied as often as possible. Later on he reengaged more leisurely pursuits like golf always choosing to walk the course and table tennis often bringing home winning trophies.

In his early 70s, George was selected by the national poet laureate Robert Pinsky, to be featured in the "favorite poem project". The short video about Georges life and his reading of his favorite Jamaican poem Song of the Banana man was shown on the former PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and a copy resides in the US Library of Congress. Ironically, George had to step down from his post on a Courant board when the video revealed that he was 72 years old, more than seven years older than board age limits allowed at the time! "Ageless" is one of the many phrases that were used to describe George over the years. He was known to have a childlike curiosity about the workings of the world, a gentleman’s honor and humility in his dealings with people, a calm, thoughtful approach to solving problems, and his own style and grace both on and off the dance floor.

He is survived by his wife Pauline, children Gordon C. Scott, Robert C. Scott, Rachael N. Beare and Michael G. Scott, niece Ruth A. Watt, nephew George H. Scott, eight grandchildren, generations of current and former employees and students, and countless others who consider themselves members of the Scotts extended family. A viewing will be held at The Lodge Community Chapel, 130 Deerfield Road, Windsor, CT, from 4-8 pm, on Saturday, September 28. A funeral service will be held at 4pm on Sunday, September 29, at Christ Church Cathedral, 45 Church St, Hartford, CT, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you contribute to improving Hartford by making a donation in Georges memory to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Attn: Strategic Priorities Community Fund, 10 Columbus Boulevard, 8th Floor, Hartford CT 06106, or by visiting, www.hfpg.org/donate.