On December 4th, 2022, Stanley B. Smith Jr. of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away. He was a brilliant, quiet, kind, loving, and inspiring man, who leaves behind a loving family and a laudable legacy of a life well lived. Stanley was a man of remarkable qualities who touched the lives of many. His brilliance radiated through his thoughts and ideas, captivating those fortunate enough to engage with him. With a keen intellect and a wealth of knowledge, he had a unique ability to enlighten others, leaving an undeniable impact on their perspectives and understanding of the world. However, it was not only his intellect that defined him. With a gentle nature that made people feel seen and valued, his kindness and love left an enduring imprint on the hearts of those who knew him.

Stanley Babcock Smith Jr. was born on February 27, 1930, in Dearborn, Michigan overlooking the Twin Ponds and the newly opened Ford Engineering Laboratory. He was the oldest of four children born to Stanley B. Smith and Charlotte Elizabeth (Schmaler) Smith. He was affectionately known as Sock to his family. A moniker earned on his first day when his father’s eldest brother, Uncle Arthur, held him up and exclaimed, “What a Sockkoodle!” He was followed 16 months later by his brother Theodore Louis Smith. Their closeness in age helped form a lifelong bond lasting into their 90’s—with their passings falling within two months of each other. His sister, Char Lynn, was born when the brothers were 13 and 14 years old. His youngest brother, Frederick, arrived when Stan was 20 years old and away at college.

As a child, he had the unique opportunity to attend Henry Ford’s Edison Institute school system at Scotch Settlement in Greenfield Village. An incredibly progressive education for its time, the hands-on approach to learning, combined with the breadth of the curriculum, left an indelible impression that undoubtedly influenced so much of his life.

In 1945 the Smith family moved to Pontiac Michigan. He enjoyed everything about living on beautiful Elizabeth Lake and it was while attending Pontiac Central High School, that he met his future wife. He was often brought in to substitute teach lower-level math classes. As fate would have it, it was during one of these instances that he met Barbara Ann Weber. They were married in June of 1951 and eventually had two children Stanely Smith III, and Lorre (Smith) Thibeault. They remained together for nearly 60 years, until Barbara’s passing in April 2011.

Stan attended Michigan State College where he studied chemistry, earning a B.S. in June of 1951–the same month he was married. He then went on to study physics at Wayne State University. Graduating with an M.S. in 1956. His career began at Ford during his time in grad school, where he was part of the early consortium exploring solutions to vehicle emissions and predecessors of the catalytic converter. This marked the genesis of his lifelong dedication to environmentalism. After finishing school, he looked to bridge his two academic pursuits and was drawn into the world of analytical chemistry and atomic absorption spectroscopy. He would eventually rise to the director of R&D for Allied Analytical Systems. He had numerous academic publications and patents over the course of his career. The most notable came in 1982 from his work with Gary Hieftje on a new method for background correction in atomic absorption spectroscopy. In an almost poetic callback to his academic origins at the Edison Institute, it was the realization that a burst of high current through a halogen cathode lamp could provide the necessary signal without the need for additional complex optics or magnetic fields. The collaboration highlighted his pragmatic approach to innovation and how tenacious he could be when presented with a seemingly insurmountable problem.

He worked as a consultant years after his official retirement from Allied. Where he continued in analytical chemistry as well as diving deeper into his optics expertise in areas such as arthroscopic lenses. He continued exploring the world, traveling to almost every continent multiple times. An avid sailor, he found solace and joy on the waters of Charlotte Harbor. He also continued teaching. However, instead of math, it was music and art. Throughout his life, Stanley remained a perpetual student, eagerly embracing new subjects and expanding his understanding of the world. He was still enthusiastically discussing new methods for looking at differential equations or unique ways of solving a Rubix cube he had discovered just a month before his passing. His unwavering curiosity fueled his fascination and appreciation for the wonders that surrounded him.

Stanley B. Smith Jr. leaves behind a loving family, including his sister Char Lynn Smith, his youngest brother Frederick Smith, his son Stanley B. Smith III and daughter-in-law Amy Smith, his daughter Lorre (Smith) Thibeault, grandsons Casey Thibeault and Corey M. Thibeault, great-grandsons Isaac Thibeault and Dashiel Thibeault, and his great-granddaughter Belen Thibeault. Their lives have been forever touched by his presence, and his memory will be cherished for generations to come. Stanley's impact as a brilliant, kind, and loving individual will continue to inspire all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/stanley-smith-jr/obituary/

Copy