Fred N. Smith

Dr. Fred N. Smith celebrated his 100th birthday the day before he passed away peacefully in his home on November 3, 2025. Fred was an amazing and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, colleague, teacher, role model, and caring pediatrician for a generation of children. Fred was deeply loved, and he will be dearly missed and remembered.

Fred was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 2, 1925, the son of Fred and Agnes (Hayes) Smith. He attended college and medical school at Tulane School of Medicine as part of the U.S. Navy V-12 program, graduating with a medical degree in 1947 when he was just 21 years old! He received his postgraduate training in pediatrics from Mayo Clinic after having served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War from 1950-1952. He then practiced pediatrics at Rockford Clinic until his retirement in 1992.

Our Dad married our wonderful mother, Lorraine McInnis, a former high school classmate, in 1947. Mom and Dad moved from New Orleans to Parris Island, South Carolina where he served during the Korean War, and then to Rochester, Minnesota during dad’s post graduate pediatric training. They came to Rockford in 1956 and had a beautiful and loving marriage until Lorraine’s death in 2020. Dad enjoyed many hobbies over the years, including his time on the golf course. He was an excellent chess player right up to his last days!

Survived by his daughters, Diane Smith and Amy Shappert; son-in-law, Roger Colden; grandchildren, Dr. Caroline Colden, Thomas Colden, Sarah (Luke) Corsiglia, Scott Shappert; and great grandson, Bennett Wesley Corsiglia. He is predeceased by his wife, Lorraine Smith; son, Fred J. Smith; and daughter, Laura Colden.

Our family would like to send a special thank you to Mercy Health at Home team and special caregiver, Cristy, who mercifully helped our father in his last days.

All services are private. Fred and Lorraine were longtime members of Court Street United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made in Fred’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Court Street United Methodist Church.