Bruce Raymond Smith

Bruce was born in Providence, RI, on October 28, 1952, and grew up in Cumberland, RI, where he graduated from Cumberland High School in 1970.

As a student at Boston University, Bruce began to fulfill his passion for journalism. He was a reporter and editor-in-chief for The Daily Free Press, BU’s independent student newspaper. He received his B.S. in journalism, cum laude, in 1974, and then moved to North Smithfield, RI, to work as the evening reporter and copy editor for The Woonsocket Call.

In 1975, Bruce married his high school sweetheart, Melanie Leasca. For their honeymoon, he took her on a month-long cross-country tour, which was the first of many wonderful vacations they would share during their 39 years of marriage.

Although Bruce was not known to be spontaneous, in 1978 he and Melanie quit their jobs and traveled through Europe for five months with only two small duffel bags. When Bruce and Melanie moved to Texas, they began a tradition of driving to South Padre Island every summer.

After returning from the Europe adventure, Bruce worked as a freelance writer from 1979 to 1983 in Stratford, CT. He was published in The New York Times and completed an unpublished manuscript.

Upon moving to Dallas in 1983, Bruce began his high school teaching career. He taught English, Journalism, Government and Social Studies for 27 years. He taught in Dallas Independent School District’s Justin F. Kimball High School and Thomas Jefferson High School. While at Thomas Jefferson, he advised the school yearbook and newspaper and coached boy’s golf, leading his team to the district championship in 1991-92.

In 1998 he joined the staff of Larry Guinn Special Programs Center in Plano, Texas, as Team Leader, English Department Chair, and a member of the school leadership team. Under his leadership and years of service, his program assisted more than 3,000 at-risk students in obtaining their high school diplomas.

Among his friends and family, Bruce was known as an excellent cook. He took pride in hosting dinner parties where his culinary talents were on full display. He was also a voracious reader whose favorite authors included John Updike and Ernest Hemingway. He loved talking about books and politics with guests, and his ability to delve into an exciting, yet respectful, political discussion was a testament to his patience and calm demeanor.

When Bruce was not in the kitchen or classroom, he coached his son, Andrew’s, youth soccer team at the Town North YMCA in Dallas. Together, they shared the fun of Andrew’s baseball and golf leagues as well as many building projects around the house. As a teacher, Bruce enjoyed summers off, so he and Andrew spent those days golfing at Brookhaven Country Club, even winning the father/son championship one year.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Melanie, and son, Andrew, both of Dallas; mother Sylvia Smith of Lincoln, RI; brother Brian Smith and wife Michele of Cumberland, RI; mother-in-law Constance Leasca of Cumberland, RI; sister-in-law Maria Leasca and husband Scott Thompson of Baltimore; brothers-in-law Thomas Leasca and wife Joslin of South Kingstown, RI, and Arthur Leasca of Cumberland, RI; and his nieces, nephew, and cousins around the country.

He is predeceased by his father, Raymond Smith, and father-in-law, James Leasca.

A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held at his Dallas home on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at 3 p.m. It is open to family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Daily Free Press http://dailyfreepress.com/