“Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy.”

- Emily Dickinson Paul Hugh Scott passed peacefully with his family by his side on Monday, February 19, 2024. It was a beautiful sunny winter day, typical of his beloved Northport, Michigan home.

Paul was born in Traverse City, Michigan in 1938 to David Gill Scott and Harriet (Frissel) Scott. On September 6, 1959, at the Alumni Chapel on the campus of Michigan State University, he married Mary Lynn Cardwell. Paul grew up in downtown Northport in the historic Gill house, spending many of his days with his father and grandfather on the ancestral cherry farm three miles north of the village on Scott Road.

Paul was a man of kindness, charm, generosity, and perseverance. He was a voracious reader and classical music aficionado. Even during his final years while suffering from Alzheimer’s, these traits brilliantly shown through in his everyday joyous interactions with those around him; with the lucky, recipients of hissignaturefirmhandshake. Paulwasa tremendously loving father and grandfather always providing a gentle push and calm encouragement to work through life’s challenges (or as he might say, “press on.”) He was endlessly curious to learn about what his children and grandchildren were doing in their lives and careers. Paul and his wife, Lynn, were devoted partners in everything, whether it was the ownership and operation of Scott Farms and Paul Scott Real Estate or more importantly the advice, support, and guidance they offered to so many friends, family, colleagues, and the community.

Paul graduated valedictorian from Northport Public School in 1956, then from Michigan State University with honors in 1960. After graduation, he was a member of the Kellogg Farm Study Program. At the same time, he joined his father as coowner of Scott Farms eventually becoming the sole owner. Together with his father, they were once the largest maple syrup producer in the state while also growing cherriesandothercrops. Heownedfarms in Northport, Leland, and Elk Rapids as well as the largest fruit tree nursery in the country in Hartford, Michigan. He also was an owner of Caribbean Fruit and Shipping Company in Belize, where he spent several winters managing a 15,000-acre banana plantation. Unable to speak by telephone, Paul and Lynn sent reel to reel audio tapes back and forth to each other.

Paul and Lynn made the farm their home. Paul enjoyed sharing his love of the family farm while walking with friends and family, being sure to point out plantings from his grandfather. With a long and stimulating professional life, being able to nurture a warm and truly loving home for his family brought Paul his greatest joy.

In Paul’s early years, he sought leadership positions in influential local organizations. He became president of the Leelanau Horticultural Society and was the Leelanau County GOP chair. He was a founding member and vice chair of the Leelanau County Planning Commission and president of the Northport Public Schools PTA and later chair of The Pathfinder School Board of Trustees. Moving beyond Leelanau County, he was a cofounder and president of the Traverse Area Foundation which was the pre-curser to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, as well as a founder of the Traverse Area Development Fund. Both earlier organizations were instrumental in securing much of the waterfront open space that now lies between Grand Traverse Bay and the parkway. At a statewide level he was president of the Michigan Horticultural Society, president of the Michigan Association of Cherry Producers and vice chair of the Michigan State Fair. In 1972, while continuing to operate the farms; together with Lynn, he opened Paul Scott Real Estate in Traverse City with an initial focus on brokering farms throughout Michigan and later, a broad range of commercial properties principally in Michigan. This initial effort spawned what turned into a lifetime effort of mentoring and giving back to the real estate industry.

In 1976 he was elected president of the Traverse Area Association of Realtors (now Aspire North), and later the president of the Michigan Association of Realtors in 1983. He spent many years in leadership roles with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) relating to government affairs, policy and elections that saw him travel widely throughout the country in support of the local associations. His NAR initiative culminated in 2002 with the professional achievement he was most proud of, the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Realtors. The award is conferred annually upon two out of 1.5 million Realtors who have shown exceptionally meritorious service at all levels of real estate for at least 25 years. To this date, he is the only Realtor in Michigan to have received the honor. In 2020, in recognition of his lifetime service to the real estate industry and community, he was awarded the Ed Petty Lifetime Achievement Award from Aspire North Realtors.

Later in his career he was proud to form a business partnership, Traverse Group International, with the then retired Governor of Michigan, William Milliken with whom he shared a close lifetime friendship that began when he was the Governor’s driver for campaign events while he was running for Lieutenant Governor.

Paul’s endless curiosity occasionally put him on the cutting edge of technology although somewhat averse to it. He was one of the original purchasers of a mechanical cherry harvesting machine (Harrett, which maybe lasted a day), teletype, fax machine, and a personal computer.

Paul was a dynamic doer, who tried to do the right thing, because it was the right thing to do even when there was nothing in it for him, other than knowing this.

Paul is survived by his two children, Eugenie Scott von Holt, and Hugh Scott; a sister Nancy Kalchik (Ralph), a brother David Martin (Cherry) and three grandchildren; Lindsey, Elizabeth, and Olivia Scott.

He was preceded in death by his dear wife of 62 years, Lynn, his parents, his sister Patricia, and a son in law James von Holt. A private service will be held at a future date.

The family thanks the tremendous care team at Medilodge of Leelanau and Hospice of Michigan, who shared great joy and loving care with him in his final year.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leelanau Township Community Foundation, PO Box 818 Northport, Michigan 49670, or Hospice of Michigan.

Please share condolences with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.