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Karl SMITH Obituary
1929 - 2014
After a brief illness, Dr. Karl Smith passed away peacefully on May 1, 2014, at the age of 85 years, surrounded by his family. Karl will be greatly missed by his wife of 37 years, Helene (aka Patsy); his children Marie-Claire, Karlene, and David; as well as his siblings Barbara (deceased), Valerie, Derek, Joan, Winston (aka Jr.) and Winsome (aka Fern). As a highly regarded Doctor, Professor, Director at IDRC, member of St. Matthew's Anglican Church, community activist, and mentor, he is fondly remembered by the many whose lives he has touched. Following his retirement from IDRC in 1992, he became involved in many community and international organizations. Karl was a past president of the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and until his passing, was on the board of directors for HealthBridge. He shared his wisdom, compassion, and 'joie de vivre' with all who crossed his path regardless of their age, background, or beliefs. Family and friends may pay respects at the
Kelly Funeral Home - Orleans
2370 St. Joseph Boulevard
Orleans, Ontario K1C 1G1
613-837-2370
Thursday, May 8, 2014 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Friday, May 9, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, 217 First Avenue, on Friday, May 9, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. We look forward to sharing our memories of Karl, and hope that you will share some of your favourite moments with us (everyone has a 'Karl Smith' story). This can be done online at www.kellyfh.ca. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, the Hospice Care Ottawa, and St. Matthew's Anglican Church.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
35 Entries
Akwasi Aidoo
July 31, 2014
I'm very sorry to hear about the passing away of this great man. I worked with him at IDRC from 1988 to 1993, and he was a great mentor.
My thought are with the family.
May 15, 2014
Dear Patsy,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Karl was an inspiration for many associated with the RCS Ottawa Branch.
His good humour will long be remembered.
Nancy and Brian Marley-Clarke
Gloria Campbell
May 13, 2014
"Dr. Jack", I will forever be grateful for your unselfish intervention and guidance in my life at a time when it was truly needed and also for my now endearing love and appreciation of classical music. For these and the many other acts of kindness, I am sure you are truly blessed. May you now rest in the peace you deserve and that the bitter stings of grief that your family and friends now experience be made easier though the grace of our Lord and Saviour.
Gloria Bryan Campbell and family.
Tony Myres
May 12, 2014
Dear Patsy,
I was so sorry to hear of Karl's passing.
I have such fond memories of the "Medical Lunch Club'. Unfortunately I was not able to make it to many lunches in the past few years because of an ongoing commitment on Wednesdays. However, I will never forget the one held at your home in the summer. It was a beautiful day, great food, great company and Karl was in his element as a gracious host with his witty repartee. We had a shared interest in Healthbridge and often shared thoughts about maternal and child health. He is sorely missed and my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family in this time of grieving your great loss.
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Firoze Manji
May 12, 2014
I was saddened to receive this news. I worked with Karl at IDRC in the Health Sciences Division. Karl was always kind, helpful and supportive. Patsy and family, my thoughts are with you. We will always hold fond memories of Karl.
May 10, 2014
I am truly sorry, but I forgot to sign the guest book after my entry May 9. Lorraine Joly Orleans
Melka Faucher
May 10, 2014
Dear Patsy: so sorry to hear of your loss - May he rest in peace and light perpetual shine on him.
Locksley and Mavis White
May 10, 2014
TO THE SMITH FAMILY:
My sincere condolences to you all on the passing of our dear friend. Sorry that Mavis and myself could not be there but our prayers will always be with you. Talk to you soon.
God bless you all.
Locksley and Mavis White (Jamaica)
May 9, 2014
My condolences to the family. I first met Karl and family when we were posted to Dakar, Senegal in 1981 with IDRC. I am presently on a cruise in the Pacific Ocean, but my thoughts are with you, as the last time I saw Karl was at my husbands funeral March 13/2010..
Timothy Eagles
May 9, 2014
There is a little piece of what Karl was, instilled in everyone who was ever around him for any length of time. I am happy to include myself, as one of those people. I have the fondest memories of Mr. Smith in my head, and a peaceful mental picture of him, that will stay with me, always.
May 9, 2014
A great contributor to the R.C.S. and so a great loss now..
Tudy McLaine
Sarah Marie
May 9, 2014
Karl was an amazing, inspiring man with so much love to give. Everyone whose life he touched has learned from him. I love you Karlene, David, Marie, Patsy and Karl
Pat Trites
May 8, 2014
I worked with Karl at IDRC - a good man and a fine gentleman, may his soul rest in peace. My condolences to his wife and children.
Honorata Zurakowski
May 8, 2014
Karl was such a kind and gentle man - a true gentleman. Patsy, Marie, Karlene and David, I am so deeply sorry for your loss.
Gloria Smith
May 8, 2014
A Trail Blazer, a great family man,an intellectual "par excellence" and a genteel human being. These are some of the qualities I remember about my cousin. That list is not exhaustive.
To his Dear wife Helene and his beloved children I wish to convey my condolences and pray that the Lord will give them the strength and courage to deal with their loss.He has left an enduring legacy for all whose lives he touched. May he rest in peace and light perpetual shine on him.
Gloria R.Smith
Carmen D'Souza
May 8, 2014
Karl, we were great neighbours and friends for 3 decades in Convent Glen. Our children grew up together and rest assured, that as 'Family', we will be here to look after each other. You will be greatly respected in memory and sadly missed. Our sincerest condolences to Patsy, Marie-Claire, Karlene and David from the D'Souza and Snell families. Till we meet again on the other side, rest in peace. Carmen
˜ Norris & Yolande (Keens-Douglas) Smith ˜
May 8, 2014
To Patsy, Marie-Claire, Karlene, and David:
"Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same."
Karl (Jack) facilitated my first Equine experience in Alexandria,
St Ann.
He administered my anti-polio vaccine in Green Island, Hanover.
In Montreal, we collaborated on I. T. for his Harvard dissertation.
These fond memories are just like yesterday!
Beyond your sorrows today, hopefully you too will invoke the positive memories necessary to comfort your tomorrows.
"Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."
Sincerest Love and Blessings!
Neville Prowde
May 8, 2014
Patsy & Family,
Please accept our condolence. May God comfort you all during this very sad time.
Neville & Ina Prowde
Denis Jones
May 7, 2014
"Jack", you were a great "big brother" and certainly an inspiration for me to choose a career in Medicine. What pleasant memories you have left behind to all who had that special privilege of knowing you!
You will certainly be greatly missed.
My profound sympathy to your immediate family who now must make that sad and lonely journey of grief!
Brother , thanks for the memories!
Denis Jones and family
Dianne Brown
May 7, 2014
To the Smith family, Karl will be greatly missed in the Jamaican community. His cultural contributions over the years brought many smiles and joy. I loved hearing his stories and will miss his kind gentle spirit.
May 7, 2014
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Faith Jumpp (née Ward)
May 7, 2014
Fond memories of a dear friend. Remember those "growing-up" years while we both lived in Jamaica and were neighbors,he being the big stern brother.
Lost direct touch with Karl over the years, but kept an indirect with him contact through Rosie and Denis Jones.
Please accept my sincere condolences as you celebrate his life. May Karl rest in peace.
Colin Bent
May 7, 2014
As a very young child I was his neighbor on Rousseau Road in Kingston Jamaica. My earliest recollection of 'Jack', as I knew him, was standing with my mother at the scene of his motorcycle accident not far from our home and then at the hospital by his bedside with my mother as a young boy not older than about 4 years old. I saw him come and go without self pity and remembered when he left for good to do his studies abroad. I was so in awe of him as I was kept up to date with his vast accomplishments and know that he was a very special man. On behalf of the Bent family I offer sincere condolences as you all pass through this time of bereavement. I wish you God's comfort.
Shirley Smith Hawkinson
May 7, 2014
My thoughts are with you at this time. It is so difficult to lose those we love but it is comforting to remember their time of service and all the gifts they shared. I have the distinction of being the cousin who caused Jack to slice his thumb as he attempted to 'cut' a coconut many years ago at our grandmother's in Coultart, St. Ann. I know his spirit lives on in those he loved.
Stela and Bogdan Zurakowski
May 7, 2014
Our deepest condolences to Karlene and her family.
Dew Rotor
May 6, 2014
He was such a wonderful, distinguished, intelligent, and playful man. It was an honour to have known him and to have been one of his many 'adoptees.' He meant so much to me and to so many others. I am so sorry for your loss Patsy, Marie, Karlene, and David.
Ramak Moeinipour
May 6, 2014
My deepest condolences to Marie-Claire and her family
Jane Wickham
May 6, 2014
Patsy And Family My Sincere Sympathy on The passing of Your husband and father.Martin and I enjoyed his company,humour and story-telling .
Adam Stewart
May 6, 2014
Dear Mrs. Smith, Marie-Claire, Karlene, and David. I am saddened to hear of your loss, and please know that we are thinking of you at this difficult time.
As you know, Mr. Smith helped shape many memories growing up in the neighbourhood, and for that I am grateful.
Thinking of you,
Ella Zurakowska Bob Dmochowski
May 6, 2014
Dear Patsy, Karlene, Marie-Claire and David, please accept our deepest condolences. Karl was such great men and will always stay in our hearts. It was a great honour to know him.
Ella and Bob
Kaye Meikle
May 6, 2014
I worked with Karl at IDRC in the Health Sciences Division and have only good memories of this kind, funny, intelligent and generous man who even shared his special chicken recipe with anyone who asked. Every Christmas I still put an ornament on my tree that Karl's wife made. The world is a better place because of Karl.
Sincere condolences,
Kaye Meikle
Deborah Kressler
May 6, 2014
David, you are in our thoughts at this very difficult time for you, your Mom and your sisters. Sending you much love.
Don and Deborah
Christina Oliveras Eagles
May 6, 2014
Karl Smith was a very special man. He was very easy to love. My family adopted him as a grandfather but I am almost positive he adopted us. ;-) Both my girls will miss their Grandpa Karl and so will myself and Sean. The world just got quieter but his foot print on our lives is enormous. I will never forget my first introduction to Karl in 1999 and will never forget the joy of watching him play with my kids. I am honored to have known him and call him family. Much love xoxoxoxo
Angela Scott
May 6, 2014
A great father to one of my best friends, and honourary grandfather to my son, Grampa Karl will be missed by my whole family. Sitting and having a conversation with him was always an education - and you could ask him anything. Love you Grampa Karl.
Rob Robertson
May 6, 2014
Karl was a wonderful colleague at IDRC, devoted to international health and on the personal level always ready with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. On behalf of the Alumni Association I extend our deepest sympathy to his family.
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