Dan L. Smith

SMITH, Dan L. 1915-2007

Dan L. Smith of Portland passed away peacefully in his sleep on Feb 21, 2007. He was 91.

Born in Portland on March 27, 1915, to Lloyd and Effie O. Smith, Dan was the oldest of five children. The family was raised in the Milwaukie and Gresham areas. He graduated from Oregon State in 1939 with a degree in electrical engineering and was very proud of his post graduate involvement in the development of concrete strength standards at OSU.

Dan was blessed with a curious mind, that he developed to a degree achieved by few people. As a young man his fascination with Nikola Tesla led him to develop his own version of the Tesla Coil. When he turned his coil on, it caused a power blackout to the town of Milwaukie. He was required to promise he would not be doing any further testing on his invention.

Dan was a B-24 pilot, during World War II. The military put his piloting and engineering skills to work testing and certifying aircraft for delivery to the AAF. Dan loved to fly and after his military service he attained a commercial pilot rating. Dan worked for ESCO in NW Portland, where he developed many close friendships. During his time at ESCO his work produced patents in the field of centrifugal casting. He was also involved in the development of steel production processes, some of which are still in use today, 50 years later. During this period, he also patented the magnetic bridge gage.

Dan left ESCO to form his own company, Atwater Development Corp., in Clackamas with his childhood friend, Dave Yoder, whom Dan described as "the best tool and die man to ever come along". Dan's friends at ESCO and Hyster continued to support him in his new endeavor by providing engineering and fabrication jobs to the new company.

Dan was married to Hilda Cruz and they lived in Willamette Heights where they raised five children. They were later divorced. Dan and Hilda both believed in sharing with those in need. In the 1950s they opened their home in NW Portland to refugee families from Cuba and helped them to start a life in their new country. Dan believed that God loves us all equally. Following that philosophy, his life was filled with interesting people from all arenas of life.

Dan was most at peace in his garden on Aspen St, reading his Scientific America, or fishing on Elk Creek at the coast with his good friend, Bill Osborne. He enjoyed the outdoors and on many weekends loaded up the family for a trip somewhere in Oregon to hike, fish, hunt mushrooms, pick huckleberries or camp. His passion for plants was evident in his green house where he propagated orchids and Christmas cacti. He also hybridized his own variety of squash that is still on the market today.

In his later years, he moved to the Philippines to pursue his "quest", but returned to spend his final years in Portland. Dan's sister, Mary, and brother, Richard, preceded him in death. He is survived by his children, Lee Smith, Portland; Mary Spear, Tualatin; Steve Smith (Jeanie), Troutdale; Mahlon Smith, Troutdale; Neal (Denise) Smith, San Francisco; and seven grandchildren, Tysen and Cooper Spear, Michael, Rachael, Lindsey, Austin and Daniel Smith; and brothers, Britt Smith and Dr. David Smith. As one last act of giving, Dan donated his body to the School of Medicine at OHSU.

His family and friends will gather to celebrate his life at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2007, at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, located at 28th and Woodstock in Portland. For more information contact Steve Smith 971-223-2040 or steve@dialx.net.

Dan believed in life-long learning. In order to further that concept, please send any remembrances in Dan's name to: OSU Foundation, 850 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333 .