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BORN
1975
DIED
2022
Aaron Smuts Obituary
1975-2022
Aaron Smuts, beloved husband, philosopher, and cat dad, passed away peacefully on March 23, 2022, at the age of 46.
Aaron was born in Houston, Texas, in 1975, but lived all over the United States, mainly in pursuit of education and intellectual inquiry. For the last twelve years he was Associate Professor of Philosophy at Rhode Island College and called Providence home. His favorite thing about Rhode Island was the beautiful summers and falls. He loved spending a long day on the beach in Watch Hill and then coming home to pick fresh tomatoes from his garden. He was a great carpenter, cook, pitmaster, strength athlete, and avid movie lover. Though he could be quite caustic, he saw the beauty in everyone and often wondered why we call our generous ideas illusions and the mean ones truth.
Aaron is survived by his wife and soulmate of 30 years, Heidi Bollich, who is heartbroken; his cats, Jack and Little Bit, who are bereft; and his sister and parents. A memorial for Aaron will be held at a later date in Houston, Texas.
In lieu of flowers or donations he would ask that you contribute to organizations that support freethinking and rational thought (he wouldn't tell you which ones, because he would want you to think for yourself).
"I'll lie here till the world swims back again."
5 Entries
Brian Hyzen
May 23, 2023
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
Danika Nieves
November 30, 2022
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.
Joshua C. Laperche
November 2, 2022
I am sorry for your loss. Mr. Smuts was a great and quite humorous teacher.
Zack Groff
May 7, 2022
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.
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Dr. John Knasas
April 8, 2022
Deepest condolences to you, Heidi, on the loss of your dear husband.
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