This past week, the green industry lost a titan—and I lost my dad and hero, Joe Scott Jr.

Joe was an early industry innovator and a founding member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).

Decades ahead of his time, he designed, built, and serviced entire properties through his pool business. Along the way, he helped launch the careers of many people who became some of the best in our industry.

Since his passing, friends have shared stories that reveal the personal impact my father had on them. Below is one from Everett, my oldest friend and a former employee of our firm.

These stories have reminded me how powerful it is to see someone you respect through another person’s eyes. Your spouse, parent, employee, or friend have likely influenced others in ways you never fully understood.

Don’t wait until someone dies (or quits) to ask others what they value about that person. What you learn now can be eye-opening, grounding, and even deeply meaningful.

Everett’s Perspective on Joe Scott Jr.

“Many things come to mind when I think of Joe Scott: panache, swagger, principled, dapper, integrity, an understanding of aesthetics, mensch, a man who built his own brand, with a gentle smile and a kind soul.

Joe exposed me to what life could truly be. Many of my passions began with what I experienced through Joe, his wife Dotty, and their company, GlenGate: my love of aquatic environments; the interplay among land, water, and architecture; being an audiophile; loving British cars; and enjoying style.

He showed me the value of working hard and working smart.

Joe gave me work and a place to live when I was ‘stretching my wings’ as a young man—and he didn’t mince words when I fell short.

I am forever grateful for what he taught me and what I experienced through him and his ventures. I am lucky to have known him. May his memory be a blessing to us all.”

—Everett

Obituary: Obituary Link

Regards,
Jeffrey