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Dick Smith Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Dick Smith
Mike Hemphill
February 16, 2024
My dad who was USAF training sergeant for weekend reserve officers at Luke USAF in the 1950's.
Mr. Smith and my father were both from Kansas and about the same age became friends.
My dad would take me to his facility and Mr. Smith would take the time to hook me up to a harness on the trampoline and work on different front and back flips.
Years later those lessons helped my basketball and my balance in my boxing career. I really appreciated the way he treated me like I was his only student.
Really a super good man.
I think of him every time I see diving on TV.
Bill Davis
August 8, 2006
With all our love and deepest sympathy. Uncle Dick as we called him was the greatest man to have for a friend and in my case adopted family member, it is a great loss to the world. Thank you Uncle Dick for all the great fun we had in Mexico riding dirt bikes. Memories like that come once in a lifetime, if you are lucky enough to have Dick Smith in your life. Aunt Helen we have been trying to find you both and we are so sorry you lost Dick. I wish we could find you. Please take care and know you both were never out of our hearts only our sight.
Love, Bill and Bobby
Prabhu Datta
January 22, 2006
I was fortunate to meet Dick only once in 1982. He forced me to stay in his home after learning about my background and interest in the sport of Diving. My God grant enternal peace to his sould, and courage enough to all of us left behind to sustain the pain and grief of his absence.
Steve McFarland
January 16, 2006
In a sport like Diving where there are so many unforgettable characters, Dick Smith stands at the head of the class. I was a “camp diver” at the Swim Gym when I was ten years old and retuned for four summers of fun in the Phoenix sun!
Two things stand out in my mind about Dick. First he took time to explain to my father what he thought about me and my diving. Dick made my dad, a farmer from Amarillo Texas, feel like he was the most important person on the pool deck. He introduced him to people like Tom Gompf, Bernie Wrightson, and Keith Russell. Dick made it easy for my dad to understand Diving and to realize it was full of great individuals.
Secondly, Dick ran his camp like it was a diving factory. In order to reach optimal efficiency in coaching he determined that the camp divers could easily listen to their correction in the air. That way he wouldn’t have to wait for us to surface to hear our correction. And as you all know it took a long time to surface since none of us saved our dives! I recall hearing a few comments that really concerned me. Things like “this is going to hurt” and “you’re not going to make it” were commonly expressed to us Swim Gym Divers as we were in the air.
It was a time of a lifetime and Dick Smith made it that way. He was an extraordinary man in our sport and he will be missed.
Lesley Bush
January 15, 2006
His passing brings on a flood of memories, most of them wonderful. I loved that time in my life when I was so fortunate to be diving with many of the greatest women divers in the United States and the world. Patsy Willard, Jeanne Collier, and Barbara McAlister dominated for years and we walked into DSSG just hoping we could find a place to dive. Dick Smith Swim Gym did not look the part but I remember how excited I was on Saturday mornings knowing that I could stay at DSSG all day and go through the sand pit, trampoline, diving board, and scaffolding platform rotations. Trying to get in line behind Rory Moore was another one of my main pleasures.
We all complained of how he made us dive off the dangerous painters scaffolding (makeshift 4-5 meter Platform) into the shallow V shaped pool, and how he made us do our most feared dives many times in a row, and how he yelled at us while we were under the water with the special speaker system. Yet he made us tough, strong,and bonded to each other as well as better divers then we had ever dreamed.
I should have told him sooner but thanks Dick for all of this.
Lesley Bush
from scrapbook Dr. Bob Wilson
January 14, 2006
from scrapbook Dr. Bob Wilson
January 14, 2006
Van Austin
January 14, 2006
Memories of what Dick has done for people will always be cherished. I will always remember him as a good friend whom I admired. Diving could use more Dick Smith's.
Van Austin
Frank Gorman
January 14, 2006
DICK SMITH-OLYMPIC COACH
At the conclusion of the 1960 US Men’s Olympic Diving trials in Detroit, Michigan three men went to Rome. The rest went home.
I exchanged my diving suit for a business suit, went to work, got drafted by the Army, and joined the Navy. They sent me to Officer Candidate School, sanctioned my marriage and shipped me out to sea. Three years later I landed on shore duty and spent some time with my wife and new baby boy. For three years I had agonized over not making the Olympic Team and vowed that if I ever got another chance I would not blow it. I contacted old diving friends and started working out. Without a coach my progress was slow. Old buddy Tom Gompf recommended that we ask Dick Smith to accept us into his burgeoning program. I could just see Dick contemplating the prospect…”older naval officer, married, with child wants to use his spare time to become an Olympic Champion.” It did not look promising.
However, USAF Lt Tom Gompf built a case with USAF Colonel Dick Smith that my rough edges could be smoothed; they could up my DD, and work my tail off. He told Dick that I was a hard worker with a burning desire to make the Olympic Team. Dick took a gamble and invited me to join his group. He coached us twice a day, every day and we got good.
By the end of August I had won a place on the Olympic Team and was preparing to go to Tokyo. I was in good company. Of the twelve available slots on the US Diving Team, Dick’s protégés had claimed six places. On the women’s team were Leslie Bush, Jeanne Collier, Barbara McAlister and Patsy Willard. Lts. Gompf and Gorman made the men’s team. To ice the cake Dick was selected, along with Dick Kimball, as Olympic Coach.
Together they instilled team spirit and brought out the best in us. The performances of the United States Team fulfilled their expectations. Of the twelve Olympic medals awarded, the US won eight: three gold, two silver, and three bronzes.
Dick Smith didn’t teach us to dive. He taught us to be champions. What do you say to a man who enabled you to experience the most thrilling achievements of your life? “Thank you” does not seem enough.
You gave us your courage, wisdom and indomitable can-do spirit. You made us strong and well disciplined. You taught us self-confidence and instilled a feeling of pride in our work. You took a chance on an old diver and made his dreams come true. Thanks Coach. God speed you home.
David Bush
January 14, 2006
My family moved from NJ to Phoenix when I was in fourth grade; 1958 or 1959. My sister Lesley and had done some diving and we landed at the Dick Smith Swim Gym. As a skinny little kid who could spin and twist pretty fast I have strong memories of the
unconditional trust in that whistle from Dick that would call me out of new dives. I think he used to threaten the older guys like Keith Russell, Win Young, Rory Moore and others that he would send me up there to learn the new dive if they didn't hurry up and do it. I always admired his ability and confidence in blasting out that loud whistle without using fingers.
Thanks Dick.
Holt Maness
January 12, 2006
The greatness of a man is sometimes only revealed in his epitaph, but Dick Smith's greatness was revealed during his lifetime. For those like myself, who did not work directly with him, the greatness was channeled by those he coached. Generous competitive spirit, courage under pressure, and respect for peers was passed right along with the technical skills of diving. Thank you, Dick, for your contribution to diving and to me directly through those you coached.
JOHN CONNER
January 10, 2006
HELLO DICK, PLEASE TELL NITA FOR ME, THAT SHE IS LOVED, AND YOU JUST KEEP RIPPING'EM ! JOHN
John McGhee
January 10, 2006
"Live life with no regrets. Stand up straight. Be self reliant. Fear is your worst enemy. Work hard, and the rewards will come. Cut your hair. Stay out of the sun - sun tans are for school girls. Pay attention!" -- All keys to life I learned as a child from Dick that have served me well my entire life; may we meet again on the great diving board in the sky.
Jeffrey T Johnson D.O.
January 9, 2006
Dick Smith taught: "Know what to do, how to do it and when to do it." As his nephew on the Johnson side of the family I have enjoyed our meetings since the 1940s. He was busy teaching and inspiring around the world. He survived the PagoPago air crash because he could hold his breath as an athlete. I visited the swim gym and always enjoyed their wonderful home in Scottsdale. I got to learn the trampoline under the careful eye of Helen in Dick's warehouse factory near 48th St. in L.A. In the latter years we enjoyed lunch and dinner an Marie Calander's and other fine eateries. I always enjoyed treating! I miss Helen and Dick and last saw them together in November, 2004. Dick's familly was very gracious to me at the time of Helen's passing in 2004.
Jeffrey T Johnson D.O.
January 9, 2006
Dick Smith taught: "Know what to do, how to do it and when to do it." As his nephew on the Johnson side of the family I have enjoyed our meetings since the 1940s. He was busy teaching and inspiring around the world. He survived the PagoPago air crash because he could hold his breath as an athlete. I visited the Swim Gym and always enjoyed their wonderful home in Scottsdale. I got to learn the trampoline under the careful eye of Helen in Dick's warehouse factory near 48th St. in L.A. Helen introudiced me to the wonderful hobby of photography. Two of my sons are artists, one a professional photographer. In the latter years we enjoyed lunch and dinner an Marie Calander's and other fine eateries. I always enjoyed treating! I miss Helen and Dick and last saw them together in November, 2004. Dick's familly was very gracious to me at the time of Helen's passing in 2004.
Wayne Oras
January 9, 2006
I never met Dick in person but had some e-mail contact a few years ago. We are all going to miss him and will remember all the things he's done for us.
Ron O'Brien
January 9, 2006
As a young coach, Dick helped me break into the international scene. He made it possible for me to be one of the coaches of the 1967 Pan American Games team. This was the beginning of a new level of coaching experience. I am grateful to him for that oportunity. Dick made great contributions to the sport over the many years he coached and one of them was the development of the diving camp as a business. Many coaches (including myself) have benefited from his lead and been able to make a better living and provide better for our families. Most of all I will remembr Dick as a dedicated professional who was always willing to help other divers and coaches to reach their dreams. The sport and all of us in it will miss his guidance and the sage and pleasant way he provided it.
Kitty O'Neil
January 7, 2006
To a Great Diving Coach and a wonerful man to be remembered.
Kitty O'Neil
Heather Cronrath
January 6, 2006
Dick Smith took a chubby, frightened six year old and taught her how to swim, how to overcome fear, how to challenge herself and how to succeed. He could scare you to death with one look, but underneath it you knew all he wanted was for you to succeed, excel and swim. I may have been his only diving failure, but his lessons have stood me in good stead for my entire life. Thank you for giving me a sport for life and wonderful memories.
Barney Rouse
January 5, 2006
My deepest sympathy to the family of Dick Smith. Family in the global perspective as well as blood relationships. Mentoring is a job that seemed to come easily to Dick. He influenced so many people in his life. Not only in his beloved Valley of the Sun, but worldwide. I remember fondly the daily practices with Jeannie, Kathy, Keith, Bernie, Patsy and a host of others. Overcoming fears. Pushing beyond what you thought was possible. These were the aspects I will remember most. God speed, Dick.
Mary Ellington
January 5, 2006
My deepest sympathy to the Smith Family. I took swimming lessons when I was only 4 from the Dick Smith Swim Gym and my sisters used to go out on swimming meets earning medals and ribbons. We are all Grandmothers now and it was a wonderful part of our childhood.
Back then we were the Cohan's.
Our prayers are with you.
Mary Cohan Ellington
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