Robert Leo Smith

Lyman, Maine- Robert Leo Smith passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, December 5, 2025, at the Cleveland Clinic in the loving arms of his wife Sarah and son Miles. Rob was a triplet, born March 3, 1977, to Joan and David Smith at Maine Medical Center, along with sister Kristy and brother Peter. Rob grew up in Westbrook and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1996. Before his illness, he was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing and was a die-hard 2A supporter. Rob and Dave competed in and won many archery competitions, and Rob loved to tell of the cherished time he and his Dad spent together in the woods; he always said he "grew up in his Dad's hind pocket". Rob's other interests included all things trucks, reading, especially about the Founding Fathers (he carried a pocket Constitution everywhere he went), watching Star Wars, cold beer, hot coffee and always being prepared. We teased him relentlessly for the 20 pounds of "stuff" he always had in his pockets. Rob had a great sense of humor which we will miss dearly. Rob was a member of the Westbrook Explorer Program during high school and a volunteer firefighter with the Westbrook and Goodwins Mills Fire Departments. Rob had a lifelong dream of being a police officer, and after high school had been accepted to the Maine State Police Academy; unfortunately, his Mother became ill at the same time, so he put this off to be with her. Joan passed away due to complications of familial pulmonary hypertension in December of 2000. Rob and Sarah were introduced by Sarah's uncle, Thom, in 2004 while Rob was employed at Napa in Biddeford. They talked on the phone for hours before finally meeting and were married the same year. Their pride and joy, Miles, was born in 2005. Rob, Sarah, and Miles enjoyed making memories in Florida, London, and the Virgin Islands. Rob was employed by Napa in Biddeford and Westbrook and later Kenworth in South Portland. In 2007, Rob was diagnosed with familial pulmonary hypertension, which he fought valiantly until 2020, at which time he was told he needed a double lung transplant. Rob received his first transplant at the Cleveland Clinic June of 2020; this gift gave Rob and his family another 5 years of life and the chance to see his son graduate from high school, his nephews grow up, and the opportunity to share countless more mother-in-law jokes with his beloved mother-in-law, Pattie. In July, Rob was diagnosed with rejection and in August underwent a second transplant. Unfortunately, there were many complications during and after this surgery, but Rob fought an amazingly courageous battle right up to the end. We would like to thank everyone who cared for Rob over the years, including now-retired pulmonologist, Dr. Joel Wirth and the staff at Chest Medicine, Dr. Stephen Hayes and Chelsea Ginn, FNP at MaineHealth and the amazing staff at the Cleveland Clinic and J54 CVICU, including Dr. Marie Budev, DO, Dr. James Yun, MD, PhD, Dr. Srikrishna Modugula, MD and the countless other doctors, nurses, therapists, environmental services providers, the guys from the lift team and all the other caregivers who we were blessed to have met. Sarah spent every day of the last 4 months at Rob's side on J54 and cannot say enough about how well Rob was treated and how much like family everyone there had become. During this most difficult time, they were truly amazing and will not soon be forgotten. Rob is survived by his wife and son Sarah and Miles Smith of Lyman, their 7 fur babies, father David Smith and his partner Linda O'Brien of Westbrook, beloved sister Kristy Smith (who paved the way for Rob by also having a lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2010 and showing him it could be done) and her partner Rick King of Sebago, brother-in-law Daniel Vigue and his wife Jillian, their children Jasper and Lucas, in-laws Patricia and Henry Vigue, all of Lyman; grandmother-in-law Gail of Saco, uncles-in-law Joseph Nason of Dayton, Roger Hooper of Lyman, Thomas Hooper and partner Brenda Stevens of Dayton, brother Peter Smith of St. Louis, MO, aunt Priscilla Kennie and husband Tim of Dayton, aunt Sue Gallant of Scarborough and many cousins. At Rob's request there will be no services, but a spring burial split between Brooklawn Memorial Park in Portland and Goodwins Mills Cemetery is expected. Donations may be made in Rob's name to the Transplant House of Cleveland on their website at transplanthouseofcleveland.org or 2029 East 115th Street, Cleveland, OH 44106