By several neighbors and friends
Our neighborhood lost a generous and dedicated neighbor when Scott Schuett died in July. While there are many neighbors who make significant contributions to improve the beauty and safety of Trinity Park, we believe Scott was in a unique class.
He moved to Trinity Park in 1980 and, from the very beginning, his background as a business person, non-profit staff member and natural problem solver led him to try to find solutions to community needs. When a problem arose that he felt needed to be addressed, he didn’t just complain about it; he rolled up his sleeves and did something about it.
Scott was one of the earliest advocates for dealing with stormwater runoff. The corner of Gregson St. and Trinity Ave. was of particular concern. He learned more about water flow than many engineers! Water isn’t the only thing that flows down our street gutters. Runoff carries leaves, twigs, cups and trash. When that urban effluvia invariably clogs up the curb drains in the street, it causes flooding. Scott could often be seen after (and sometimes during) a rain storm, in rubber boots and raincoat with shovel and rake in hand, cleaning out drains on lower Gregson so people could pass safely.
He picked up litter, cut the grass, and cared for street trees on Gregson along the property of Durham High School, which became Durham School of the Arts. After his retirement, Scott became a trained Tree Keeper and was a frequent volunteer with Keep Durham Beautiful. He did not limit his care and pruning of street trees to Trinity Park but worked in other neighborhoods. He was also known to be in a constant battle with a particularly virulent stand of bamboo in Alley 17, which was so thick at one time that the garbage truck had a tough time getting through.
It was not only his willingness to do such tasks, but also his skillful work dealing with local government and others to encourage corrections to existing problems. That is only part of what made Scott so special. There are countless examples over the past decades. A few recent ones stand out.
When the large Trinity Park sculpture was ready to be installed in the island at Buchanan and Main, Scott assisted his friend and regular coffee buddy Al Frega in installing the concrete footing and then pulling the sculpture off Al’s trailer, wrestling it onto the pad, and bolting it down.
After the storm of August 15, 2023 that led to huge amounts of yard waste–much more than the City could quickly handle–Scott drove around in his beloved Jeep and hauled away piles of debris to the City yard waste landfill. Without his efforts, some of our streets and sidewalks would have been impassable far longer than they were, and we suspect that some of that brush might still be piled in front yards even to this day.
When there were shootings and murders not far from his home, Scott arranged for off-duty police patrols, initially at his own expense, to add further protection for neighbors in the south end of Trinity Park. He discussed safety issues with neighbors, friends and the police. He literally put his personal safety at risk by walking through the crowds at the intersection at Watts and Main at 1 am to observe the problem first hand, and learn from the police (when present) what issues seemed to be creating the environment that led to the shootings. This involvement led Scott to the realization that the Durham Police Department was horribly understaffed, and he took it upon himself to advocate for additional City budget allocation to hire more police officers, and to convince many of his neighbors to do the same.
Scott’s deeds and his advocacy made him a mentor and a model worthy of emulation. He had a vast network of friends and was part of several coffee groups. And boy, did he love his coffee! One group met daily for many years and then in recent times switched to once a week. The purpose of these gatherings was to enjoy company but also to brainstorm about issues small and large.
Lastly, Scott was a kind and caring neighbor to those that lived near him. Always friendly, jovial, and helpful, Scott would strike up a conversation or jump to lend a hand any time one might be needed. He was an excellent listener and brought optimism and light to each interaction. When it was his turn to share, he loved telling about his recent adventures at Jeep Jamborees where he reveled in 4-wheel drive obstacles shared with other enthusiasts.
It is not easy to think of one particular way to honor Scott, but several friends suggested a workday to plant and prune street trees, followed by a coffee social . Please look for more details about Scott Schuett Day, to be held in late October. We look forward to seeing neighbors come out to honor his memory, get work done and share coffee and conversation.
