John B. "Jack" Smith

Jack was born on June 26, 1937 in Bryan, Texas to Elmer G. Smith and Sally L. Smith. Jack's Father was a Physics professor at TAMC his Mother was a high school Latin teacher. He was raised in a traditional Texas A&M University household, becoming a devoted, life-long Aggie!

Jack graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in 1955. He continued his education at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, graduating class of '59. After that, he moved to NYC and attended Columbia University where he achieved both his Masters and PhD in Library Sciences.

While in NYC, Jack met and married Ida Salim Hawa in December of 1963. Jack, Ida and Daughter Suzie moved back to College Station so that he could start his career at Texas A&M University as the Director of Libraries. His career then took him to State University of New York, Stony Brook as Director of Libraries and Dean of Library Sciences. After retirement, he took a position at Bronx University to continue his passion for education.

Jack is proceeded in death by his parents, Elmer G. Smith and Sally L Smith and his sisters, Katherine M. Smith, Sara Smith-Morrow, Elizabeth Smith McMahan-Le-Sure and brother Terry Embree Smith.

After 43 years of happy marriage, Ida passed away on February 1, 2006. Jack then met Cynthia Gail Hicks and they married on July 19, 2008.

Jack is survived by brother, Elmer W. "Bill" Smith, wife Cynthia Gail Hicks-Smith, daughters, Susan Helen Toth and Rona Esther Smith and grandsons, Jonathan Martin Wendt and Graham Joseph Toth and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

His passion for education has left lasting effects on all he touched. He was inspired by books, plays and music and truly enjoyed the fine arts. He will be greatly missed by all.

Funeral Arrangements are as follows:

Viewing:

Sunday, June 11 2-4pm

Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home

2620 South Congress Ave.

Austin, Tx 78704

Funeral:

Monday, June 12 7pm

Saint Elias Orthodox Church

408 E 11th St.

Austin, Tx 78701

Burial:

Tuesday, June 13 11am

College Station Cemetery

S. Texas Ave.

College Station, TX

Donations will be accepted in Memory of John B. "Jack" Smith, to Saint Elias Orthodox Church.