David Callistus Smith

DAVID CALLISTUS SMITH, 51, of Denver, Colorado, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the evening of October 2, 2015, while traveling on business in northern Virginia. A profound intellectual and fierce individualist, David was deeply loved as a brother, son, uncle, and friend.

David was born on June 17, 1964, the oldest son of Donald C. and Mary Katherine “Kathy” (Russell) Smith, and grew up in Floyds Knobs, Indiana. He attended Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville, Indiana, where he graduated with honors in 1982. David became a member of Mensa International at an early age and studied at Purdue University where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors and then a masters in electrical engineering in 1987. After briefly working for IBM during college, David moved to Denver, Colorado, to take a position as an engineer with Hughes Electronics, now part of Raytheon. A loyal and valued employee of Raytheon for over 28 years, David earned the position of Engineering Fellow. During those years, David’s work ranged from top secret defense projects to global weather satellite systems. As his family and friends remember, David’s work was often so complex and highly confidential that he couldn’t discuss it. We probably wouldn’t have understood it anyway.

As creative as he was intelligent, David was an enthusiastic, and some would say courageous, fan of experimental and eclectic music, and enjoyed a lifelong love of literature. A passionate advocate of the visual and performing arts, he supported the Colorado Symphony Opera, and Denver Art Museum and was a member and frequent visitor to the Denver Botanic Gardens. David was also an artist, working primarily with acrylics. He particularly loved the work of expressionist and Bauhaus school painter Lyonel Feininger. David was known by his family and friends for his impeccable sense of personal style. David had a deep intelligence and wit and was a formidable conversationalist and debater. He fearlessly spoke his mind, and what was on his mind was usually right.

David was extremely close with his family and is survived by his parents, Donald and Mary Katherine “Kathy” (Russell) Smith of Floyds Knobs, Indiana; his brother and sister-in-law, Matthew L. and Danette Smith of Spring Park, Minnesota; his brother, Christopher R. Smith and brother-in-law, Joseph Bombard of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and his nephews Benjamin, Tyler, Luke, and Grant Smith.

David was preceded in death by his grandparents David J. and Berniece Russell and Callistus J. and Geneva Smith.

Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 9, at Kraft Funeral Home, 708 E. Spring Street, New Albany, Indiana. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10, at Holy Family Catholic Church on 129 West Daisy Lane, New Albany, Indiana. The burial at Holy Trinity Cemetery will be private and attended by the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of David C. Smith to Our Lady of Providence High School, 707 Providence Way, Clarksville, IN 47129.

Online condolences may be made to www.kraftfuneralservice.net