William Frederick Smith
(1946 - 2017)
Will was born in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. He was the fifth and youngest son in an Irish Catholic family of nine. With a strong willed mother, precocious siblings and an FBI agent father, his childhood was extremely busy and certainly never dull. Will always valued education and he chose to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and became a pediatric dentist. Not satisfied with private practice, Will decided to leave his New England roots and travelled north. He was a seeker with an adventurous spirit and a strong social conscience. After working in remote areas of Alaska and Manitoba, he moved to Canada permanently in 1978 to work with the Saskatchewan dental health program for children. It was there that he met and fell in love with his wife Lynne. He completed an MBA in record time at the U of S in Saskatoon and then went on to develop, manage and promote children’s dental health care programs across Canada.
Will was truly dedicated to his work and set the bar high for himself but he also truly enjoyed life. He had a dry wit, a contagious smile and a welcoming heart. He loved all sports, especially skiing and he loved the ocean. He loved both his American and Canadian families and friends and he was extremely proud of all his nieces and nephews. He was a multi-talented and remarkably good person who will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Will passed away peacefully on June 10, 2017 at the Polson care facility in Vernon after enduring the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease with as much grace and dignity as humanly possible. There will be a memorial mass at 2:00 PM on July 10, 2017 at St. James Catholic Church in Vernon, followed immediately by eulogies, memorial tributes and reception at the Pleasant Valley Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Red Cross or Salvation Army are welcomed.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vernon Funeral Home, Phone: 250 542 0155. Condolences may be offered at
www.vernonfuneralhome.com.