Robert Clarence Smoot III

Robert C. Smoot, III went to be with the Lord Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the age of 91. He passed away peacefully from natural causes at the McGraw Center in Jacksonville, FL. "Bob" was born in 1933 to the Reverend Robert C. Smoot, Jr. and Elizabeth Trumbo Smoot of Baltimore, MD.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger and only brother William T. Smoot. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara Ann Mensinger Smoot. Bob was the loving father of Katrina Smoot Swartz and her husband the late Allen Michael Swartz of Hampstead, NC, Robert C. Smoot, IV and his wife Elizabeth Spence Smoot of Reisterstown, MD, and William T. Smoot and his wife Teri Smoot of Ponte Vedra, FL. He was the proud grandfather of 5 grandchildren beginning with Caitlin Lee Swartz, Elizabeth Swartz Payne, Brielle Smoot Ferguson, Brandy Smoot Adkins, and Hunter David Smoot, as well as the proud great-grandfather of four great-grandchildren.
Bob was ROTC at Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 1956 with a degree in chemical engineering. It was here that he met his bride, Barbara. Penn State was followed by three years of active-duty service in the U.S. Navy on the Pacific coast before returning to Baltimore in 1959. In 1960 he became a student at Johns Hopkins University where he obtained his Master of Arts in Teaching. He was asked to try his hand at some writing and the material ultimately led to the creation of Chemistry: A Modern Course. This high school chemistry textbook was the number one selling chemistry text in the U.S. for many years and had eleven editions published. He also co-authored or consulted on several other science texts for his publisher, Charles E. Merrill.
Bob dedicated nearly four decades to teaching chemistry at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD, from 1959 to 1996. In his early years, he also coached football, wrestling, and lacrosse. Committed to education beyond the high school level, he additionally taught summer and evening courses at Johns Hopkins University from 1970 to 1973.
He was an avid reader, a passionate sports fan (especially of football and wrestling), and a skilled model ship builder. He loved spending time boating on the Chesapeake Bay and exploring the world through his travels. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, whose love and guidance will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project.
St. Jude's
501 St. Jude’s Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Wounded Warrior
PO Box 758516
Topeka, KS 66675-8516