Robert Ewing Smith

Beloved Father, Grandfather & Great Grandfather

Robert's Life

Robert Ewing Smith passed away Wednesday, September 16, at his apartment in South Jordan, Utah, His daughter, son-in-law and one grandson were with him. Sadly, this was just days before his 92nd birthday. Always one to enjoy a party with family and friends, it would have been nice to have been able to celebrate with him, such a life well lived.

A native of Canada, Robert's youth was spent in Montreal, QC. His cousins were extremely important to him and his family enjoyed many stories of time spent on family farms and the young mischief that ensued. He attended McGill University (Mac) for his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in animal and poultry nutrition. It was there that he met Janet, his future wife of 65 years. Family lore states that he lived in a barn as a poor "Aggie" student and part of their first date included a tour of the chicken house. The two married at Knox Crescent and Kensington Church in Montreal, June 6th, 1959. While working for the Canadian government in Ottawa and Nova Scotia, three of their children were born. One more child and a change of country later, Bob earned his Ph.D. in Animal Science and Biochemistry at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Smith's commercial career spanned approximately 30 years. The majority of his time was spent in research and technology leadership positions. Easily identified companies such as Quaker Oats, Swift & Co, Del Monte and Nabisco were where he focused on the commercialization of new food products. Less well known was the time he devoted to serving on governmental committees for the National Research Initiate, the National Academies of Science, Agriculture Biotechnology, Health and the Environment and many more. Late in his career, he served as President of the Institute of Food Technologists and found that role extremely satisfying. A lifelong proponent of higher education, he served on the advisory committees for the departments of Food Science at the Universities of Illinois and Texas A&M. Dr. Smith was also an adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois.

Bob was a voracious reader, deep sea fisherman, champion curler, and beer brewing all around guy. In his early years you could find him at a dog show in the midwest with a pop-up camper, his wife, four children and a St. Bernard named Aunt Jemima. Later you could catch him riding his motorcycle to the nearby airport earning his pilot's license or jogging at the local school track before work. There were countless sailing trips with friends and travel across most of the continents. Once he and Janet retired to their beloved Lake Memphremagog in Vermont, his motorcycle trips were more about delivering his home grown tomatoes and talking your ear off on a sunny day. He was downhill skiing at 80 years of age and terrifying his family with his other hobbies because he was "in pretty good shape for the shape he was in". After he lost Janet, he filled his time with cribbage, hockey games, scenic bus drives and enjoying the rugged mountain views of Utah. If asked his favorite pastime, however, Bob might have said it was swimming with his grandchildren in the middle of the lake, floating with a seat cushion and telling very, very bad jokes.

Robert loved mentoring young talent. He was a wonderful resource if you needed advice. His observational awareness and quiet wisdom was there for anyone who asked. He was smart. And tough. And fun. He will be missed.

Robert is preceded in death by his wife, Janet Smith, his son Robert Gordon Smith and his sister Norma Watts. He is survived by his brother, Douglas Smith and his three daughters; Heather Maynard, Sandy Crisafulli (Bill), and Leslie Zagarola (Mark).

Celebration of Life
Robert and Janet will have a joint celebration of their lives. The event will be in Northern Vermont in the Summer of 2027. There will be no funeral or viewing events offered at this time.

In Lieu of Flowers
Bob believed very strongly that all young people need a safe place to learn and grow outside of school hours. Please consider giving to the Boys & Girls Club of America.