I appreciated Scott Adams, and am sad he has passed away. I learned a lot from him and his perspective helped me through difficult times.

The comments here are very unfortunate. When someone dies, it is appropriate to speak of what you appreciated about them.

That's it. That's all you need to say. And you aren't required to say anything at all.

Apologizing for liking him because of x or y or explaining that you liked him despite z is in poor taste and, frankly, cowardly.

I appreciated Scott Adams, and am sad he has passed away.