Obituary of Gordon Smith

Gordon Robert Smith was born to Charles Robert and Alma Evelyn Smith on April 22, 1922. He was an only child. His father died when Gordon was three due to a faulty gas mask during a training program in WWI. Gordon lived with his mother or grandmother at various times as a child, but was primarily raised by his Uncle Walter and Aunt Kathleen Watz, who both worked in the Packard plant in Detroit. Walter was a fantastic person with a truly unusual personality and a wry and subtle sense of humor. Aunt Kathleen was a true gem, a tremendously talented cook and a sweet compassionate soul. These people sent Gordon into life well-prepared to face the world. In 1940 Gordon began his studies at Michigan State College, where he was distracted by meeting the stunning Jini Taylor in a chemistry class. The chemistry between them grew to a point where they found it necessary to marry on Valentine’s Day, 1943. This was a turning point in both their lives, and occurred just before WWII sent Gordon into the Army Air Force, where he became a 2nd Lt. Navigator. This did not, however, guarantee him great skills as a navigator while driving later in life. When the war ended, the Smiths spent a year in Michigan before moving to Denver, where Gordon got his degree in business at DU. This enabled him to get a job selling insurance, then a better one selling pharmaceuticals for Lederle Laboratories, a job he kept for 24 years. In the late 1950’s he developed an interest in health and fitness that never left him. He took up running considerable distances in the neighborhood where the growing Smith family resided, which was not a commonplace thing to do in those days, especially when the weather was awful. Even the family dog was reluctant to leave the house at night when he would set out to get his exercise. Bicycling also came into the picture, and became something he never gave up doing. In fact, he rode his bike to work just a couple of days before his stroke in December. The real revelation came when he first tried skiing in the early 60’s. He was sold on the sport from hello, even though he had no natural aptitude for it. It is probably safe to say that there was never a worse skier than Gordon Smith in his first few seasons. It was horrific to see the patented “Smitty crash and burns” that made up his repetoire each weekend, yet he still adored the process, and stayed with it year after year until he became competent enough to be a Ski Patrolman at several ski areas. He also taught first aid, and was a part of the disabled skier program at Winter Park. He still hit the slopes up until 2010, and would have been out there this season if he had been able. He could still ski well when we went skiing last year. He won a ski race at Sol Vista, though there weren’t many entries in his age group. Skiing was the most loved of all the hobbies he pursued over the years. He also enjoyed photography, raising tropical fish, woodworking, building stereo equipment, camping, traveling, and many other activities. For the last 20 years he was a certified Master Gardener, growing and eating a wide variety of organic crops, and working part time at the Arapahoe County CSU extension office, where he had many friends. He was active at Ascension Lutheran Church and the University Church of Christ in a variety of programs. His wife Jini and his children Rondi, Rande, Nanci, Jil, and Staci and their spouses, and his grandchildren Nathan and wife Kelsey, Amie, Keenan, Reece, and McKenna are all heartbroken at his passing, but will go forward in the spirit he left them by his example. Memorial gifts may be designated in Gordon’s name to Ascension Lutheran Church.