There is the old adage that one should leave any place better than they found it. Dave and Marsha Smith, who are soon to leave this area, are the perfect examples of a couple who have done just that. After eight years in Auburn and Skaneateles, they can look all around and see the difference they have made.

Dave Smith, who has been with NUCOR Steel on and off for the last 19 years, leaves the Auburn plant (NUCOR's fourth smallest and heading for its fifth year of record profits) on Friday to take a new assignment with the company in Plymouth, Utah, at NUCOR's largest plant. While the Smith#s may have never thought of central New York as their final assignment with NUCOR, they have stayed here the second longest of any stay, seeing their children finish school in Skaneateles and move on to college.

Over the years they have turned down other promotions and job assignments to stay in this region longer. While they have been at seven different plants around the country, the couple embedded themselves in our community while here.

In April, Marsha Smith was recognized for her charitable works at Catholic Charities' “Works of Love” Dinner. One of four people recognized that night, her list of civic involvement is pretty impressive. For example, her work as treasurer with Habitat for Humanity sought to get those who don't have homes, a place to call their own. She has even enlisted her husband to help restore a house on Wadsworth Street and helped to get Habitat to build its first house in Auburn.

The former mathematics teacher still takes the occasional teaching assignment, but has made it a point to give much of her time to working for those who haven't been as fortunate.

As for her husband, he is the man who can't seem to say “no” when it means participating in our community's civic life. Look at just a sampling of a few boards he will vacate this week as he heads to Utah: Auburn Memorial Hospital, the board of the Cayuga County College Foundation and the Cayuga County United Way. Just a sample of three community institutions he will leave as he heads west.

Known for keeping meetings on track and assignments flowing, he is a big picture person who might best exemplify Winston Churchill's old wartime maxim - Action This Day. He recognizes that time is finite, and that you have to get things done rapidly.

The Smiths leave this region a better place. Not because they sat on this board or that, but because they led by example. They helped do the heavy lifting that was needed to get things done, and even wielded a hammer or two, when it came to helping a person in need.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com