Nathan James Smith

10/13/1921 - 02/02/2011

SMITH, Nathan James

Nathan J. Smith, M.D. passed away at home in Spokane on February 2, 2011. He was born in Cuba City, Wisconsin on October 13, 1921 to Floyd and Rachel Smith. He attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating from the medical school in 1944. During his residency in Minnesota, he met Marcella Keller, the head nurse on the pediatric ward, and they married February 9, 1946. Nat served in the U.S. Army until 1948, attaining the rank of captain. He then began a career of research, clinical practice, and teaching in pediatrics, starting at Children's Hospital in Boston. While there, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, which he spent with Marcy in Paris, France. They returned from Paris to a faculty position at St. Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia. He spent the majority of his career at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Washington. Throughout his career Nat nurtured partnerships with medical schools in Japan and Chile. He authored or co-authored fourteen books and numerous research publications and taught generations of medical students and physicians. Nat was an avid outdoorsman, passionate about fly-fishing, hiking, bird watching and photography. Above all, he was devoted to his family and will be remembered as a kind and gentle husband, father, and grandfather with a spontaneous sense of humor. He is survived by his wife Marcy of Spokane; children and spouses Nan Smith and Art Zack of Spokane, Doug Smith and Ellen Wolf of Talkeetna, AK, and Brad Smith and Dale Fournier of La Conner, WA; and grandchildren Rachel Zack of Spokane, Ben Zack and wife Anna Zack of Columbia, MO, and Dara Zack of Lacey, WA; and brother Duane Smith of Tucson, AZ. A private memorial service was held for family members. A reception in honor of Nat will be held at 3 pm Monday, February 7th, at Evergreen Fountains, 1201 N. Evergreen Rd, Spokane Valley, 99216. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of Spokane, P. O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 or to a charity of your choice.