Jason Robert Smith

Jason Smith

Player one. Husband. Dad.

Jason Robert Smith, 52, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at the Cook Family Residence in the Hospice of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, surrounded by his loved ones. He was predeceased by his father figure and mentor, Dean Allen Medlock. Jason leaves behind his devoted and beloved wife and player two Jane Schepansky; as well as his son and daughter, players three and four, Nicholas and Madison Smith. He was a devoted husband, and proud, loving dad. His affection for and from those around him was his true north, guiding him through every challenge big and small.

Perhaps the first thing one thinks of when remembering Jason is his lifelong adoration of the Star Wars universe. First falling in love with the galaxy through A New Hope, he followed the expansion of Star Wars his entire life. Rewatching the movies never once grew old, quoting its characters never once became dull, and learning its vast lore never once lost his interest. He found immense joy in any and all forms of Star Wars media: books, comics, shows, stories, board games, and video games. His most favorite onscreen characters inspired him and reflected many of his own qualities - Han Solo, with his wit and exploratory spirit; Boba Fett, with his intelligence and strong principles; and Luke Skywalker, with his compassion and idealism.

Fortune favored him when a position opened at Lucas Arts in the Presidio of San Francisco, where a beloved and memorable career would blossom into countless memories and friends working on video games. Jason was a gamer for life, finding joy and creativity in many expansive worlds of fantasy. Ever since his childhood, he loved the vast potential and togetherness of Dungeons and Dragons to play with friends and neighbors. He enjoyed the arcade, Atari, SNES, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Playstations, the Wii, Gamecube, Switch, and of course, the computer. No console ever became too old or outdated, but remained in the home as a treasured token of the past to revive old memories and masterpieces throughout the years. It wasn't just about immersing himself in another world, but bringing those he loved along for the journey, and gathering them together to share in fun and laughter.

He was an avid game collector at heart, famed for his Steam Library of Alexandria with more games than one could count. His love story with his wife Jane began virtually on the Team Fortress 2 game. Jason's main was the sniper, and Jane's the medic. One adventurous message bloomed into years of long-distance love, meeting at the Flamingo Hotel in 2016, and eventually marrying in Las Vegas in 2020; after which they would move to live in Ontario, Canada enjoying the company of extended family.

Survived by mother-in-law Janet Schepansky ("the mothership"), father-in-law Dymetro Schepansky, sister-in-law Shirley Schepansky, and brother-in-law Eric Thibodeau. Jason's love for the thrill of sports, and gambling never waned over the course of his life. As a child, he most enjoyed playing baseball and rooting for the New York Mets. He also fell in love with basketball through watching Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. Everyone who lived with him will always remember his hilarious, deafening claps and yells watching football, especially on the edge of his seat following his most favorite Denver Broncos.

One of his longstanding pastimes was fantasy football for nearly thirty years, strategizing as the owner of the Swamp Daddies team. He was an avid visitor of casinos, a hotel's most comped customer, a poker table's sharpest contestant, a craps table's hot roller and enthusiastic conversationalist, and a slot machine's jackpot winner and seat warmer. He was blessed with an incredible ability to do the best with the cards that were given to him; whether at the casino, or in life. A recurring delight throughout his years was tracking the lottery and buying tickets for all of us to one day win it big.

What everyone who knew him came to understand was that they had already won with the great luck of having Jason in their life. Whether family, a close friend, or a stranger, he had a special gift of truly getting to know those around him. This was evident with his most recent role at San Nicolas Island and Point Mugu, where he made many lasting friends. He had a way of making others feel heard, understood, welcomed, befriended, and happy. Even rarer still, he inspired everyone who met him to appreciate the silly things in life. To sing goofy songs, call each other by funny pet names, and brighten every moment with silly sayings. He possessed an unmatched intelligence, starting his days by following news of all kinds to remain aware of the world around him.

A perpetual learner, he was a resourceful man constantly researching the best way to do things. Jason always strived to share the best experiences with his friends and family, creating untold memories that would be cherished forevermore. In the great game of life, Jason didn't just play, he enhanced it for everyone who ever knew him. Now, his controller rests.

His quest log is cleared and ready for a new adventure, but his legacy remains in every unforgettable story, precious memory, sidesplitting joke, catchy song, and shared laugh. Jason, you will always be player one in our lives, and as you move onto your next episode...


May the Force be with you, always.


We would like to thank all the miracle workers who helped us along in the end game, including medical teams at St. Mary's, Grand River Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital, UHN's, Toronto General Hospital, and of course, Cook's Family Residence "hotel", Waterloo. Thank you all for doing your best. Many thanks to Jane's work family at the FedDev, as well as many family and friends for the compassion and support for the last few years.

To view more pictures from his life, we've set up the following Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GkBRVnxChqno7GkN-fgykPulUuLUWaqk?usp=sharing
*still adding!