Aaron Smuts

I met Aaron Smuts when I was a freshman and he was a junior at Bellaire HS. He was one of the funniest, craziest people I've ever met. I'm lucky to be alive, but I never regretted times I spent with him. Josh Bernard, Kenny fairbanks, Joe Perez, Brandon, Costas Minetos....this was our circle...and around was the ringleader.
Brother, I hope you're in peace, and you are thought of often.
See you on the other side
Brian

I found this obituary when I looked up Aaron as I explained to a friend why he was my favorite professor at Temple (and favorite teacher anywhere, to be honest). He had such a quick dry wit and was brilliant but had an authenticity about him that I thought was so rare and special.

Years later as a high school English teacher, I always find myself thinking about and repeating his mantras about the importance of expressing your ideas clearly and succinctly and that people who hide behind long-winded fluff are usually obscuring that they don’t know what they’re talking about. I remember sitting in his Philosophy of Death class during a discussion about the idea that nothing matters because we’re all going to die anyway and one day the sun will explode, and him asking “Why does humanity or existence have to be eternal for things to matter?” which stuck with me to this day.

I was never a very motivated student and honestly through many years of high school, college, and grad school, the three classes I took with Aaron at Temple are the only ones that ever stood out to me in any meaningful and lasting way. I always planned to one day reach out to him to let him know all of this and am so sad to discover that I’ll never get the chance because he’s no longer with us. My deepest condolences to his loved ones.

I am sorry for your loss. Mr. Smuts was a great and quite humorous teacher.

Aaron was one of very few professors from whom I took multiple (three) classes at Temple University. I was so frustrated when Temple "lost him" to another school. However, my angst in 2010 pales in comparison to my shock and sadness in 2022. Each moment of my three classes with Aaron was delightful, and he helped me to become a better thinker, writer, and student. He was a great teacher, genuinely invested in his students' success, and enjoyable to be around. Though I never met Aaron's loved ones, I offer my sincerest condolences to Heidi and the rest of the family.

Deepest condolences to you, Heidi, on the loss of your dear husband.