A few favorite stories and reflections of the wonders of a community newspaper, by a 40-year veteran

Encouraged by a middle-school English and journalism teacher to ponder a career in newspapers, Chris Smith made a beeline to a degree in reporting and editing. He started out at his hometown paper, The Riverside Press-Enterprise. Soon, serendipity drew him north of the Golden Gate, where in 1977 he began writing for The Press Democrat.

From a general assignment reporter drawn strongly to people stories, he became a weekly columnist and then, following the 2001 semi-retirement of the peerless Gaye LeBaron, the PD’s full-time newsside columnist.

 For 20 years, nothing fired him more than a remark, phone call, email, letter or text sharing with a Sonoma County story that struck his heart strings or funny bone.

Since he retired after 40-plus years in 2022, his avocations include working on a contract basis as The Press Democrat’s primary writer of obituaries of notable local people. He regards it an honor to tell of their lives and passions and contributions to this place.

He and his wife, Diane Peterson, the PD’s former food editor and Santa Rosa Symphony reviewer, live in Santa Rosa. They have a son, Max, and a conspicuously adorable Australian shepherd, Maisie.