NATCHEZ — Albert Metcalfe was a quietly confident, humble man who never made a show of his great benevolence.

Metcalfe, 83, died Tuesday.

Metcalfe was born in Natchez in 1932. He left home to attend Swathmore College in Pennsylvania, but returned after receiving a bachelor of arts in liberal arts and went into business with his father at Jordan Auto, a Chevrolet dealership which was located at the corner of what is now Lynda Lee and D’Evereux drives.

He and his wife Gay married in 1959, meeting in Natchez even though she was from Pennsylvania. They would eventually have three children, Debbie Aiken, Albert Jr. and Susan Ray.

In her 56 years with her father, Aiken said she never heard him speak an ill word of anyone.

“He never complained, and he was never self-absorbed,” Aiken said. “He was quiet and very humble and loved his family, his church and Natchez.”

Metcalfe was named The Natchez Democrat’s 2015 Citizen of the Year in recognition of his dedicated service to the Rotary Club.

Known as “Mr. Rotary,” Metcalfe had perfect attendance at Rotary for 57 years.

“He was a big part of our club,” Rotary President Doug Wimberly said. “Wherever the Rotary meeting was that Wednesday, he was there. Everybody in club called him ‘Mr. Rotary.’”

Metcalfe’s passion was The Rotary Foundation, responsible for The Rotary ambassadorial program sponsors overseas studies for scholars. At least 11 Natchez-area residents have studied in areas such as Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Ireland and Scotland. Serving the foundation meant Metcalfe helped vet the applicants for the program.

Metcalfe also worked with the club’s global study exchange program, in which Rotarians — and non-Rotarians — visit another part of the world to learn about the culture there. The area being visited by the U.S. delegation in turn sends visitors to the district in the United States. At least 23 Natchez-area Rotarians have been able to participate in the exchange.

And through that program, Metcalfe likewise has helped bring visitors from around the world to experience Natchez, often hosting them in his own house, The Parsonage.

Outside of the Rotary Club, Metcalfe served on the board of the former Britton and Koontz Bank and served on the board of the Salvation Army and was a long-time elder at First Presbyterian Church.

The church was a strong link in Metcalfe’s longtime friendship to Lee Jones.

“He was the reason that when I got out of college, I joined the Presbyterian church, and it was a very good decision,” Jones said. “That was 56 years ago, and we were friends ever since.”

Jones said Metcalfe was a devoted friend, family man and community servant.

“He was a very gracious and very grateful man,” he said. “He was very much loved in this community.”

A Southern gentleman in an era of dying Southern gentlemen, is a compliment Aiken said she has heard used describe her father more than once since his death.

“Young or old, there are 10-year-olds and 90-year-olds crying because he is gone,” Aiken said. “He touched so many generations of lives.”