Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith (“Mike”) crossed his final finish line on the morning of August 16th, 2023.

He was born in Uhrichsville, Ohio on December 2nd, 1942 to parents Wable E. Smith and Wilma D. (Wallace) Smith.

Mike and his family later moved to Dennison, Ohio where he graduated from high school in 1960. After graduation he joined the U.S. Airforce and served as a radar technician on the Distant Early Warning system, based in Finley, North Dakota. In 1964 he was honorably discharged, and with the help of his sister Judy, enrolled in Kent State University. At Kent he majored in Industrial Technology and met his wife Cindy (Ignizio) when they both failed the same advanced math class and found themselves in the same make-up class. Stepping over his long legs every day in class, she couldn’t help but notice him. They married August 26th, 1967 and lived together in the married students’ apartments.

Upon graduation in 1969, Mike began his career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber as a Machine Designer. Over the many years he spent with Goodyear, he amassed over 20 patents and many Trade Secrets, and progressed to become a Section Head and Principal Engineer. His work took him to Goodyear plants in many places; England, France, Luxembourg, and Germany, to name some of those. He first retired from Goodyear in 2005, but spent several additional years working as a consultant on some major projects including the installation of a tire building machine he had designed when it was installed in Danville, Virginia. Before he became a consultant, he had kept busy and used his technical skills by building two spec homes in the Brimfield area. He joked that his foray into home building was one of the causes of the 2008 housing market collapse, but we know it wasn’t his fault! Although, as Cindy jokingly noted, all of his hobbies were expensive!

In 1970, Mike and Cindy began their family with their first daughter Dana Michelle, who died in infancy. Andrea Lynne was born in 1971, followed by Jessica Clare in 1974. He enjoyed being a “girl Dad” but also loved to teach his girls some boy stuff too - like how to change a tire, lay tile, install flooring, and how to pull a trailer. He was able to make the girls’ dreams come true, when the family expanded to include horses. At the same time he got his dream too; a brand new truck and matching horse trailer. He considered expensive mistakes to be “tuition in the school of life” and just another thing to be learned from. Mike and Cindy were able to travel regularly, with special trips to Hawaii, Washington State, Arizona, and several trips to Europe over the years that they both enjoyed. Family vacations, houseboating, skiing, and beach going are all fond memories as well. All the ladies in Cindy’s family liked to say they were glad “we” married him!

Throughout his life, Mike enjoyed recreational competition. He found a good combination in running and cycling. He ran many races of all kinds but was particularly proud of his marathons and ultra marathons. He was an avid cyclist and rode in many long-distance rides like RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) and GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure), often accompanied by his wife Cindy and sometimes his granddaughter Toni Housas too. In Iowa, he was known as “Ohio Mike” and was part of Team OHIOWA. He competed on the Goodyear teams for the Corporate Challenge for many years. He has more ribbons, trophies, and race paraphernalia than we can count! Later in life, he enjoyed jogging with Jessica several times a week - we’d say more about that but, “what happens on the trail stays on the trail.”

He was predeceased by his parents Wable and Wilma Smith and his in-laws Tom and Lois Ignizio.

Mike is survived by his wife Cindy, daughters Andrea Smith (Scott Polidoro) and Jessica Smith-Tarry (Michael Tarry), Grandchildren Antonia (Toni) Housas, Braden Tarry, Baylee Tarry, and Taylor Tarry, as well as Siblings Judith Wallace (Ed Wallace), Jon Smith (Jan), and Richard Smith, brother-in-law Vince Ignizio, and many nieces and nephews, as well as his Goodyear friends Pat Marks, Mark Banas and Stu Rickman. His dog, Bennett the “Terrierist”, misses him, too.

Flowers are welcome! As another form of remembrance, donations may be made to Metro Parks of Summit County, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Justin T. Rogers Hospice Center of Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Emergency and Intensive Care units, and the Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center for the excellent care they gave Mike as well as their support for the family during his time there. We will be forever grateful.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, from 4pm until the funeral service beginning at 6pm at the Wood-Kortright- Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 East Main Street, Ravenna, Oh. 44266.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com