ROBERT H. SMITH

SMITH, CAPTAIN (U.S. NAVY, RETIRED) ROBERT H., 86, died February 28, 2012, at his home in Coral Gables, Florida. Bob was born April 9, 1925, in the Panama Canal Zone. His parents were Captain (U.S. Navy) Robert H. Smith, Sr. and Frances Bresnahan Smith. Bob graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1947 and rose to the rank of Captain during his career in the surface fleet, which included the command of the U.S.S. Wilkinson, out of Newport, R.I. After his retirement, Bob continued to work for many years in the defense consulting field in Honolulu, Hawaii and in Northern Virginia. He was one of the foremost authorities in the field of anti-submarine warfare. Bob was a thoughtful and forceful advocate for the U.S. Navy. He wrote frequently for U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, including four U.S.N.I Foundation gold medal winning essays. Bob was also a passionate reader of literature. His memory was extraordinary, and he regularly recited his favorite poems, from John Donne to A.E. Housman to Edna St. Vincent Millay. In addition, Bob was a committed writer of fiction, and produced many short stories and several novels. Bob edited and published the non-fiction work of several other authors. He published much of his work and the work of others under the imprint he founded, Ancient Mariner Press. Bob was married for 42 years to Athena Plastas Smith, who predeceased him in 1994. They had a wonderful marriage, traveled the world and had four children together along the way. Later, Bob had the great fortune to meet and marry the loving companion of his last seventeen years, Winifred Smith. They enjoyed many adventures together and came to Coral Gables in 2007. Bob is survived by his son Robert (Miami), and daughters Frances Brooke O'Neil (Atlanta), Siobhan (Northern Virginia), Victoria Larson (Northern Virginia), step-daughter Jennifer Schaub (Annapolis), grand- children Travis O'Neil (Atlanta), Ansley O'Neil (Boston) and step- grandchildren Dylan Schaub and Luke Schaub (Annapolis), all of whom loved and admired him, and will remember him all of their lives. Bob's remains will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery later this Spring. The family will host a celebration of Bob's life this Saturday, March 10th, at the Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables, in the Segovia Room, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those who wish to do so, may make a contribution in Bob's memory to the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. View this Guest Book at www. MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.