Nathan Tanner "Nate" Smith Jr.

1927 - 2017

NATHAN TANNER SMITH JR. JANUARY 8, 1927-NOVEMBER 16, 2017 On November 16, 2017, our Heavenly Father called our beloved Nathan "Nate" Tanner Smith Jr. home. This call came at Stanford University Hospital, while surrounded by loved ones. Nate was born January 8, 1927, to parents Nathan Adam Smith and Marybelle Hudson in Warren, Ohio. He was the oldest of their four boys. Upon graduating from Warren Harding High School, he was drafted into the US Army in during World War II in 1945. After years of service, 18 in England, France and Germany, he retired in 1971 from the US Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. While serving his country, Nate obtained his Bachelors and Master's Degrees from the University of Maryland and San Francisco State University in US History, Political Science and International Relations, respectively. As an avid learner of literature and life, Nate spent many a year traveling as a military service requirement. He continued his academic achievements with courses from Wayne State University in Detroit from 1950-1951 and Cambridge University in England in 1959. Nate also acquired a wide ranging work experience from Radar operation, clerical and industrial management. Simultaneously he completed courses in Systems and Procedure Analysis, Work Measurements, Organizational Analyses and Measurement Statistics. Upon retirement from the Air Force in 1971, Nate took a full time Assistant Professorial position at Anchorage Community College teaching Political Science and History, until he took a leave of absence to pursue his Doctorate in Afro American History at the University of Minnesota in 1972. This is also where his soon to be wife, Pisila Taufe'ulungaki, was pursuing her Doctorate as well. When Nate had a passion, he pursued it with persistence, perseverance and appreciation. Take Pisila's story: Nate called her every time she worked at the University's switch board in Alaska, hopped a monthly flight to see her while she was beginning her Doctoral journey in Minnesota and sent letters and poems constantly during a five year period of courtship, all without the encouragement of Sila. Romance or borderline stalking, judgment would err in the former's favor. They married in June of 1974 and were blessed with Elizabeth 'Ana and Nathaniel Solomone, their two beautiful and special children. The next 43 years were filled with the following services, activities and achievements. Alaskan Humanities Forum (1971-72); History Teaching Assistant (1972-74); Part-time as a Lecturer and Counselor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (1973); Research Fellow for the Associate Dean for Administration and Assistant Dean for Student Personnel with the College of Liberal Arts (1974-75); an Evaluator of the Martin Luther King Programs Summer Orientation at the University of Minnesota (1975); A Member of the United Nations Association of Minnesota; a Coordinator of Advising for more than 2,000 students from (1975-78) at the University of Minnesota; A Lecturer in Social and Behavioral Science Division General College (1978-85); Director of the Summer Institute and Enrichment for Minority and Special Students (1980); A panelist on the Hubert Humphrey Series "Prospects for Peacemaking" (1985); Member of the Board of United Ministries in Education; The Minnesota International/World Affairs Center; Global Volunteers; World Federalist Association;); Community involvement Throughout Nathan's life, he fulfilled many roles such as his career in the Air Force; his career as a man of academia where he taught at various universities most notable the University of Minnesota (1972-1985) and Humboldt State University (1986-2001); and his role as both a storyteller and performer of songs. He participated in various choir activities ranging from his time singing with the Eureka Presbyterian Church Choir, the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir, the Ferndale Community Choir, and the Humboldt Harmoniers. He was also the mind behind the program known as the Power of Song which he performed with the help of fellow colleague and good friend, Val Phillips songs of the Negro Spiritual and shared both the history and stories behind the songs themselves. Nathan Tanner Smith Jr. is survived by his wife Pisila and their two children Elizabeth 'Ana and Nathaniel Solomone. He is also survived by his son Nathan III (Orange County), daughters Kitty (Colorado), and Brigetta (Tennessee), son-in-law Jeff Royal, and grandchildren Jeffrey Royal, Aaron and Natalie Smith. As the oldest of 4 brothers, Nate is survived by his younger brother Bernard and his wife Margaret (Calgary) and their children and grandchildren as well as his other siblings children and grandchildren who are too numerous to name. His family is grateful to the different medical services that helped to enhance his quality of life over the past years from the ER doctors and nurses at St. Joseph Hospital; the doctors, nurses, and staff at Stanford University Hospital; Dr.Matthew and staff at Fresenius Eureka Clinic; the doctors and staff at the Eureka Veterans Clinic; Dr.Palmer, Dr.Trieu and the staff of the Northcoast surgical team; Dr.Olsgard and staff at the Eureka Family Practice; and last but not least, David Ponte and staff at the Ponte Physical Therapy. Nathan's funeral arrangements were handled by Gobles Mortuary and his remains have been interred at Oceanview Cemetery's mausoleum. We will hold Nathan's Celebration of Life which will be officiated by Pastor Dan Price on what would have been his 91st birthday on January 8th, 2018 at the Eureka Presbyterian Church on 14th and I street at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Nathans Memorial Scholarship Fund at Wells Fargo Bank. In addition, please sign the Time Standards guestbook at www.times-standard.com