NORWICH – Norwich businessman Douglas S. Christman, 76, who passed away Thursday, is remembered this morning as a friend, a mentor and a quiet leader.

He was a well-known area Chevrolet-Buick dealer at Christman Motor Sales Inc. in Norwich for more than 50 years. He became owner-operator in 1978.

He worked with his cousin, Hank Scudder, and friend, Tom Morrone.

“He was a great mentor and a great friend. A good business partnership is like a marriage; it has its ups and downs, but it always sticks together. We were always in contact with each other,” said Morrone.