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Bradley Smith Obituary

Bradley F. Smith Formerly of Santa Cruz Faculty member at Cabrillo College for thirty-two years and acclaimed historian, died in London on July 10 after a long illness. Smith was a ground breaking historian of the Second World War and intelligence. His ten books on World War II earned him many honors, especially his work on the origins of the CIA, lives of Hitler and Himmler, and the Nuremberg Trials. Smith was born in Seattle in 1931, where his father was a professor at the University of Washington. Graduating summa cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1958, he spent a year at the University of Munich in Germany; he was awarded a Fulbright and became a Wilson Fellow. He joined Cabrillo in 1960 and retired in 1992. He was a most popular lecturer and offered special classes and seminars on Nazi Germany. He organized a community film program for several years, and with William Grant, a colleague, led a Great Books group at the local library. He took a leave of absence in 1967-68 during the period of racial conflict in the South to teach a year at Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama where he was a civil rights activist. His first article in The Journal of Modern History in 1971on the early career of Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS during Hitler's rule in Germany, led to his book A Nazi in the Making, published in 1971. Throughout the 1970s Smith began to write the books which would make his name as a scholar. Foreign Affairs welcomed Reaching Judgment at Nuremberg (1977) as 'a superbly written and novelesque account, which is also a sound work of historical scholarship'. The Shadow Warriors: OSS and the Origins of the CIA (1983) was, like all his books, meticulously-researched, and it remains the best general account of the Office of Strategic Services, the USA's Second World War intelligence agency. Critical commentaries praised the book's revelations of a controversial subject. Part of Smith's genius, long before the widespread release of intelligence-related material, was to find revealing documents in public archives and among his favourite places were the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, the National Archives in Washington D.C., and the UK National Archives at Kew. His success in plundering that repository of documentary riches was exemplified in Sharing Secrets with Stalin: How the Allies Traded Intelligence 1941-45 (1996), which did an extraordinary job in uncovering a story that changed our assessment of the achievements and the failures of that improbable wartime alliance. Above all, however, was his extraordinary generosity in cheerfully sharing his own research with younger scholars, to whom he was invariably encouraging and helpful. Writing his books while teaching at Cabrillo also exemplified Smith's abiding commitment to community college education. He leaves his widow Jenny-Wilkes of London and two daughters, Maggie and Leslie, from a previous marriage, and two grandsons, Bradley and Harrison. A memorial service will be held November 16th at 4pm at the Sesnon House Cabrillo College.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Nov. 11, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Bradley Smith

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Flowers for you Brad.

Ella Seneres Bautista

November 3, 2024

Thank you Brad

Ella Seneres Bautista

November 3, 2024

Brad Smith was one of the best teachers I had. I was already anti-fascist since age 12, after reading Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski. Then I met Brad Smith, he rounded out my stance on opposing Nazism. Funny thing was, I never knew he was a famous scholar. He never bragged. He was one of the most influential soul in my development politically. I took his Revisionism class at Cabrillo. I would love to have known what he would say about this era with the rise of fascism with tRump at the helm. Wherever you are Brad, thank you for everything you were. Thank you for all the talks, all the kindness you showed me as a young whippersnapper. Thank you for fighting fascism. You made a huge impact for democracy. Rest In Power brother.

william huffman

November 4, 2022

Brad was a competent teacher with a pleasant personality.

karl holt

March 5, 2019

The greatest Professor ever. How many times did I shake my head smiling leaving his lectures. Like yesterday, one can remember him so well. My life has been better by learning from him. His family should know how he in his own way he changed the world for the better. God Bless you Brad. A student in 1976. Still, you are who all others in my education have been compared. Hope to see you again. Thank you for all you gave

January 2, 2018

Love you Brad

January 2, 2018

Brad was a kind hearted, easy going teacher with a great ability it impart knowledge. During my academic career, I have had few monitors that are as dedicated, empathetic, knowledgeable, insightful and giving as he has been. Truly a great soul and being. Brad you are a great example of a human being, a great mench! I have often wondered how he was doing and now 4 years later I find this obituary online. What a loss! - Paul Tobias Rechenmacher [email protected]

Phil Wright

November 10, 2013

I recently learned of the passing of Brad Smith and am deeply saddened by the news.

I was his student in both a philosophy class and a history class. He was intelligent and engaging, a fantastic lecturer, teacher and author, and was a great inspiration to me and my career in education. My educational experience with him influenced me to return to college to earn my degrees. During his career at Cabrillo, I would periodically stop in to visit him or have him autograph one of his books I purchased. Since his retirement, I lost contact with him and have missed visiting with him, but he has never been forgotten.

I send my caring thoughts to his family.

November 12, 2012

Sincere condolences to Brad Smith's family. Over the years, I heard him talk fondly of his daughters and his "beloved Jenny." He clearly cherished much more than his incredible intellectual pursuits.


Mr. Smith was a huge force in my life. I attended Cabrillo in l960-62 and enrolled in his Philosophy classes. He kindled my lifelong love of learning, invited me to his home, helped me attend Berkeley as a Philosophy student: he was the namesake of my son, Brad. I never forgot his wise words or the thrill of his inspiration. Those traits were equalled by his kindness and keen wit.

What a gift to the world his life was, as poignant as a beacon as is his loss to us all. How lucky I feel to have known him.

Donna Lake Abersman

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