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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2018)
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 5 Remembering Brad Smith By Jim Anderson Correspondent Brad Smith of Paulina Springs Books went out among the stars on May 20 of this year — but if reincar- nation works, he’ll be back, not as Brad Smith, owner of Paulina Springs Books, but as a thorny devil stick insect. If that goes as he planned, how- ever, we’ll have to visit the Solomon Islands to catch up with him! Brad was born December 13, 1954, in Spokane, Washington and lived there until he was five. His big sis- ter Cynthia says, “ The fam- ily then moved to Clarkston, Washington, and lived there for 1-1/2 years. He was seven when we moved to Portland, Oregon. I guess Portland was probably the closest to a hometown. After high school and several years of trav- eling around, he settled in Bellingham, Washington, and lived there until he moved to Bend.” Brad and his wife, Randi, lived happily together for 35 years before Brad proposed marriage. The occasion was their oldest son Leben’s wed- ding, and Randi accepted! During those 35 years another son, Austin, entered their lives, and out of all these events came a beautiful granddaughter, Hazel. It wasn’t his idea to leave us at such a young age. Those of us who were around Brad knew very well he was just getting started in the business of enjoying life. What got him was cancer. Cynthia remembers his intense curiosity as a kid, and how he almost burned their house down learning about fire. And on another occa- sion a few years later, while learning about gravity, roll- ing boulders into Loon Lake with the help of his brother, almost wiping out hikers on the trail below them. Cynthia still smiles remembering the happy times their family had going to their grandmother school teacher’s cabin on Loon Lake, Washington, when all the kids were young. Brad went through his life applying his uncontrollable curiosity in just about every- thing he took on, which even- tually brought him a great fol- lowing with children — his own, his grandchildren, and strays. Throughout his adult life, when kids heard about any big outing coming up, they’d ask, “Will Uncle Brad be there?” “Children just glommed onto him!” Cynthia noted. Jim Ashby, the gen- eral manager of a natural foods co-op in Bellingham, Washington, wrote a delight- ful account of Brad’s learning about the business world. “Brad was a driving force in the co-op’s growth and development for over 25 years. He began working for the co-op when they were using a cigar box instead of a cash register. It can be said of very few people that if it weren’t for them INDIGO COLLECTION Nature + Geometry 541.549.6061 | 311 W. Cascade Ave. an organization might not exist. Brad was that rare per- son for the co-op. For many years, he was the co-op’s most recognizable staff per- son. Longtime members will remember him as encyclope- dic on both natural foods and co-ops. Brad has been gone from the co-op for quite a few years, and now he’s gone from the Natural World. He left the evidence of his vision and hard work behind for us.” You can feel, see, experi- ence and appreciate Brad’s influence on his store in Sisters the same way today. But the story of Brad’s Paulina Springs Books began with founders Dick Sandvik and Diane Campbell in 1992. They created the bookstore with high appeal to readers of many persuasions, and over time its good reputation had spread far and wide. Dick and Diane began hosting author events, bring- ing a welcome new element to the already culturally rich community of Sisters. Six months after opening, they hired Sue Tank, who contin- ues to be a vital member of the staff today. In addition to Sue, Bunny Thompson was working in the store at the time of purchase, and she too was instrumental in the shap- ing of the store’s character. In 2003, after 25 years of PHOTO COURTESY CYNTHIA CLARIDGE Brad Smith doing what he liked to do best: reading to his granddaughter, Hazel. managing the Community Food Co-Op in Bellingham, Brad moved to Central Oregon and began search- ing for a new community- connected endeavor. After visiting the store, he was impressed by the strong sense of community Dick and Diane had achieved. When he learned they were interested in selling, he decided to take the plunge. Owning and operat- ing Paulina Springs Books was different from the community-owned grocery store he managed for years, but Brad was a glutton for work. He opened Paulina Springs Books in Redmond in 2007 and was active in the Independent Booksellers Association, which has started a scholarship in Brad’s name. Brad’s wish to be reincar- nated as a thorny devil stick insect may have come from one of the zoology books he read. With his vast knowl- edge of languages, he may have grabbed the scientific name for the walking sticks, Phasmatidae, which is from the Greek, meaning an appa- rition or phantom, referring to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves — or perhaps he liked the idea of being included with the world’s longest insects. On Saturday, July 21, from 5 to 7 p.m., there will be a celebration of Brad’s life, held at Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave. in Sisters.
