Bulletin columnist A.A. 'Bud' Smyser died at 80
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
A.A. "Bud" Smyser, a two-finger typist whose insightful and thought-provoking views graced the pages of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin for more than half a century, was a carbon copy of the newspaperman he admired most.
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Smyser, who celebrated his 80th birthday Dec. 18, died yesterday at 4 a.m. at the Queen's Medical Center.
Colleagues remember Bud Smyser as a tough newsman who did a lot for the community.
"He didn't suffer, and the Sinatra song 'My Way' is an appropriate description," said the former Dee Prather, Smyser's wife of nearly 17 years, of the family's decision to honor his request not to be kept on life support.
In a recent column on his former boss, Smyser noted that Riley H. Allen, who served as editor of the Evening Bulletin and Hawaii Star from the time they merged in 1912 until 1960, wrote out all the instructions and news releases for his own funeral services and also included a poem:
"I shall pass this way but once. If there is any good deed that I may do, let me do it while I can. I shall not pass this way again."
Smyser, who succeeded Allen as editor of the Star-Bulletin, had his finger on Hawai'i's pulse for 55 years, informing the community about everything from tsunami — his scrapbook of newspaper stories on the subject is a treasured resource at the Pacific Warning Center — to statehood to human rights to government to dying with dignity.
"Bud was a vigorous competitor and a very dear friend," said George Chaplin, former editor of The Honolulu Advertiser who often crossed swords with Smyser. "He was also a first-rate journalist who worked hard for the community, just a good guy. He was tough but never underhanded."
Lyle Nelson, a former Star-Bulletin staffer who knew Smyser for about 50 years, characterized him as a meticulous, aggressive newsman.
"When he got hold of a story, he wouldn't let go," Nelson said. "He had a great interest in politics and, later, the East-West Center. As a political writer, Smyser had a good sense of balance. You couldn't tell by his writing which candidate he favored. He spoke kindly of Mayor Frank Fasi in spite of their battles."
Smyser made a tremendous contribution to journalism in Hawai'i, journalism historian Helen Chapin said.
"He worked hard for statehood and wrote early analysis of Hawai'i politics," she said. "When Frank Fasi barred the Star-Bulletin from his press conferences, Bud Smyser fought back. A suit before Judge Sam King resulted in an order forcing Fasi to admit the newspapers."
Smyser fell at his Wai'alae-Kahala home Saturday, landing backward on his head. Following surgery to remove pressure from the brain, doctors told the family his brain would not be able to survive. At 4:30 p.m. the decision was made to remove him from life support.
"But his heart was so strong," said Trinidad Peltier, a recently retired Star-Bulletin administrative assistant who worked for both Smyser and Allen. "He just didn't want to let go.
"I worked with Bud on his 'death with dignity' series, and he always told me he did not want any heroic measures. This is the way he wanted to go."
Chapin said she admired Smyser for the way he spoke openly about death with dignity.
"It's quite remarkable. He's taken the heartbreak out of it," Chapin said.
Peltier, who worked at the Star-Bulletin from 1946 to earlier this month, said Smyser was planning to have a dinner party last night at his home for editorial staff and their spouses. He was also looking forward to a film documentary on Allen due in May.
"Bud was one of the people who brought so much respect from the community to the paper," Peltier said. "Newspapers come and go, but people like Bud Smyser and Riley Allen are what people remember about the Star-Bulletin. Bud was a carbon copy of Riley. He became synonymous with the newspaper."
Smyser recently signed a contract to do a weekly column for the new Star-Bulletin.
"Bud hated computers, but he just mastered e-mail," Peltier said.
Peltier said her goodbye to Smyser Sunday night.
"I told him, 'Hey Bud, when you go up there and see Riley, tell him don't wait for me, I'll catch up with you guys,' " Peltier said. "Bud was more like family to me than a co-worker. I'll miss him very much."
Adam Albert Smyser was born Dec. 18, 1920, in York, Pa. The nickname "Bud" might have come from his sisters, since he was the first-born boy, Dee Smyser said.
"He had beliefs in life, thought and pondered a lot about things, but I think he always felt he looked at things fairly," Dee Smyser said. "He was really a man ahead of his time.
"He was very pleased with his part in statehood; with the Star-Bulletin's stand on women's rights, for example abortion; and the East-West Center's future in Hawai'i," she added. "His greatest satisfaction was the series on how death and dying could be handled. His life was fulfilled."
Services are pending.
Smyser is survived by his wife; daughter Heidi of Kaua'i; son Avery; stepchildren Laurie Gorelangton, Mike Gorelangton of Texas, Dana Gorelangton Turnbull of Maui and Christy Nowak of Idaho; brother Dick Smyser of Tennessee; sisters Serena Leber and Alice Raphel of Maryland; and three grandchildren.
Advertiser staff writer Bob Krauss contributed to this report.
