John "Jack" W Smith

John W. Smith (February 12, 1929 - January 28, 2025)

John W. (“Jack”) Smith, age 95, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at

Riderwood Village in Silver Spring, MD. He was born in the small town of Ladysmith, WI

in 1929, and often credited his love of the outdoors to his rural upbringing.

Jack attended Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, MN before studying business at

Dartmouth College. He served three years in the U.S. Army, the last two with Army

Counterintelligence in post-war Germany.

In 1954, he joined the New York Life Insurance Company as an agent in Milwaukee,

where he met and married his vivacious wife, Joan. He spent 33 years with the

company, ultimately serving as a regional vice president. His career led him to live in

Minnesota, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio before retiring on idyllic Lake Tellico

in eastern Tennessee. He spent his final years in Maryland, at Riderwood Village, where

he enjoyed social activities and concerts, daily walks around the duck pond, and

frequent visits with family.

Jack’s lighthearted, kind, and cheerful nature brightened every room. He took great

pride in being a parent, grandparent, and mentor to young people, often emphasizing

the importance of finding an interesting career and building a life around what you love.

He was always active, from football and track in high school, to skiing and hiking in

college, to swimming, boating, tennis, and golf in retirement. He loved to share his

passions for photography, coin collecting, and the Tennessee Vols. He especially

adored his rescue cats.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Joan R. Smith, of Hartford, WI

(2011); his parents, Woodruff and Charlotte Smith, of Ladysmith, WI; and his siblings,

Alexander Smith, Jane Plumb, and Charlotte Seward. He is survived by his four

children, David Smith of Austin, TX, Kathleen Smith of Silver Spring, MD, Lori Ashford

of Washington, DC, and Julie Smith of San Francisco, CA; and four grandchildren,

Chloe Ashford, Zoe DeGrazia, Sylvia Ashford, and Mason Rabbetz.

A celebration of Jack’s life will be held this spring in the D.C. area. In lieu of flowers,

donations in his name may be made online or by check to the Riderwood Scholarship

Fund, 3110 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904.