Paul J. Smith

Smith, Paul Joseph Of Miami, FL passed away on Thursday, October 18th. Paul was the band director at Miami Palmetto Senior High School for 15 years and was an accomplished trombonist. He was an inspirational teacher, sharing his love of music with many students throughout the years. His encyclopedic knowledge of music, especially of brass music and musicians, continually amazed his colleagues and students. Born to Richard Paul and Ann Marie Smith in Lincoln, NE on June 15, 1964, Paul began to pursue his interest in music at a young age. Piano lessons in third grade led to trombone lessons in fifth grade, which in turn led to many outstanding performances with the school bands in Plainfield, IL, where he moved with his family in 1975. He was selected as concerto soloist with the Plainfield High School band during his senior year and was awarded the John Philip Sousa award as the outstanding senior band member as well as the Louis Armstrong award for outstanding jazz musicianship. Paul earned the honor of playing first chair trombone in the 1981 and 1982 Illinois All-State Honor Bands and was a member of the Greater Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. After his graduation from Plainfield High School in 1982, Paul continued his music education at DePaul University, where he studied with Mark McDunn. While earning a Bachelor of Music in trombone performance and a Bachelor of Music Education, Paul had many outstanding performance opportunities with the DePaul wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz band, and trombone choir. Paul also played with the DePaul Blue Demons basketball band at many NCAA tournament games. In January 1985 Paul performed at the Reagan inauguration in Washington, DC with the All-American College Marching Band. The summer of 1986 found Paul performing at Epcot Center as a member of the College All-American Orchestra. In 1991 Paul earned a Master of Music from the University of Victoria, Canada, where he studied with Ian McDougall. Paul then began working with many big bands, including Jan Garber, Guy Lombardo, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller. With these bands, he performed in every state except Hawaii; on cruises in the Caribbean, to Alaska, and through the Panama Canal; and on tours in Europe and Japan. Paul began his teaching career at Miami Palmetto in 1997, teaching concert band, jazz band, and marching band, as well as music appreciation, guitar, and choir. During his tenure the band travelled to football games, competitions, and other special events, including the Cotton Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl. In 2003 the Palmetto marching band appeared with the rock band Phish in a special New Year's Eve performance at the American Airlines Arena. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Paul also maintained an active performance schedule with local groups including the Barry Mann Orchestra, the John Branzer Big Band, Arnold Perlberg's Gold Coast Society Orchestra, the Mystery Tones, the Kendall United Methodist Church Brass and Orchestra, and numerous musical theater productions. Paul had a number of interests beyond his musical endeavors. He was an avid college football fan, most loyal to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. As Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 457, Paul enjoyed leading the troop's musicians on Scout Sundays. Paul's love of travel fueled his quest for knowledge about new places and cultures. Throughout his battle with cancer, music continued to bring Paul joy, and he taught and shared this joy with others into his last days. Paul was preceded in death by his father Richard and by his grandparents. He is survived by his beloved wife Lisa; his son Wade; his mother Ann of Plainfield, IL; his brother and sister-in-law David and Mary of Danville, CA; his sister Caitlyn of San Francisco; his aunts and uncles: Lawrence Smith, Charles and Pat Smith, Marilyn and Ron Lehenbauer, Luanne Kruse; and three first cousins. Memorials may be made to the Paul J. Smith Foundation, c/o Lisa Smith, 16601 SW 153rd Place, Miami, FL 33187.