We, the directors of the Branford Folk Music Society in Connecticut, join in sadness to express our condolences at the passing of Sandy Paton on Sunday. But we also join in celebrating a life, together with his wife Caroline and sons David and Robin, that touched so many people throughout the world in such a gracious manner. As the sharers of songs, with Sandy's field recordings and with their labor-of-love Folk-Legacy productions, the Patons were true national treasures who gave traditional folk music, as Sandy and Caroline oft remarked, "a proper home" while also acknowledging revival musicians who were "in the tradition." Sandy possessed a scholarly, deep knowledge of traditional music but he never flaunted it; rather, he educated and guided us all about the songs, their histories and their meaning — and he did it in such an energized and loving way.

Here in Connecticut, he and Caroline more than three decades ago nurtured then-fledgling folk societies such as Branford Folk and The Sounding Board in West Hartford and several folk radio shows, legacies that exist to this day. Branford acknowledged that debt of gratitude by dedicating its 35th anniversary season this past year to the Patons and Folk-Legacy Records.

Sandy was a pioneer and an iconic figure, although he would swiftly dismiss such characterizations. He was one of the "good people" in our lives. Our hearts go out to the Paton family which has experienced such loss in recent weeks.