Obituary of John David Smith

Smith, John David   B Sc ’60, M.Sc. ’62 Mining Engineering, Queen’s University 

August 28 1936 – July 23 2018

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John David Smith, at home, in his 82nd year. John is the beloved husband of Betty Jean Smith (nee Provost), dear father of David and Amy (Gaskin) of Toronto, Ian of Kingston and Evan and Elizabeth (Shumate) Smith of St. Catharines, and cherished grandfather of Sarah  and Shannon Smith, Charlotte and Caroline Smith and Violet Smith.  John was predeceased by his twin brother Peter (2015), his oldest brother Thomas (2016) and is survived by his brother Douglas (Lucky) of St. Joseph’s Island Ontario, and youngest brother Donald (Carol) of Echo Bay Ontario (near Sault St. Marie). John was born and grew up in Hamilton Ontario and came to Kingston in the fall of 1956 to attend Queen’s. After graduation he went to work at Inco in Sudbury, before returning to Kingston to do his Master’s degree in mining engineering. John had a long career as a mining consultant working at mines all over the world and was known as one of the “grandfathers of rock mechanics”. Outside of his professional life, John was an avid golfer, hunter, bird watcher, and collector of antiques. Following his retirement, his passion was the Stanley Thompson Society, where he was Vice President and Archivist. Friends and family are invited to celebrate John’s life at a service on Thursday July 26 at 1:30 pm at James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd, Kingston, Ontario. A reception will be held at the conclusion of the service at the James Reid Funeral Home Reception and Celebration Centre. Interment will be held at a later date at Cataraqui Cemetery. Donations in John’s memory can be made to the A.V. Corlett Bursary Fund for mining engineering students at Queen’s University or the Stanley Thompson Society.