Ralph E. Smith M.D.

Ralph E. Smith MD, 87, passed away on March 10, 2006, surrounded by his loving family in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Smith was born in Buffalo New York, in 1918. He graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and was a 1943 graduate of the University of Buffalo Medical School. Dr. Smith took his internship at the Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, in NY prior to serving overseas in the U.S. army from 1944-1946 in World War Two. Upon his return, Dr. Smith had his surgical residency at the Millard Fillmore and E.J. Meyer Memorial Hospitals in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Smith had a general surgical practice in Buffalo, NY for 30 yrs. prior to moving, in 1976, to Scottsdale, AZ. He was a Fellow of the American Board of Surgery, a past President of the Buffalo Surgical Society, a member of the American College of Surgeons and an Eric County Medical Examiner. In AZ, Dr. Smith was on the faculty of the Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency Program at Good Samaritan Hospital. In addition, while at St. Luke's Hospital, he was heavily involved in the training of Phoenix paramedics. In addition to having a career of distinction, Dr. Smith was first and foremost a family man, well-loved by those he leaves behind. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jeannette, his five daughters (Karen Freiman and Carol Bruckman of Scottsdale, AZ, Sandra Mucci of the Town of Tonawanda, NY, Sally Smith of Williamsville, NY, Cindy Gagle of Bermuda) and his grandchildren, Jennifer Douglas of Canal Winchester, Ohio and Brandon and Courtney Gagle of Chandler, Arizona. He is survived by his two sisters, Ginny Molin of Amherst, NY and Lilian Kaegebein of Lakeland, Fla. Funeral arrangements are private. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85014. Arrangements were made by Messinger Indian School Mortuary. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytribune.com
This obituary was originally published in the East Valley Tribune.