Welcome

Sanford V Smith

November 29, 1924 – August 16, 2021

We are sad to announce the passing of Sanford (Sandy) V. Smith on August 16, 2021 at the age of 96.

If were unable to attend you can see the service and slideshow Here.

———————————————————————————————————

Sandy was preceded in death by parents Frank & Lillyan Smith,  brother Gene Smith and brother-in-law Marty Martinez. He is survived by his wife, Patricia K. Smith; children, Martin (Robin), Andrew (Karin), Jennifer (Rick), and Carey (Laurie); and grandchildren: Sarah, Aubrey, Uli, Ailsa, Davis; sister, Nancy Martinez; sister-in-law Clara Smith; brother-in-law David Knapp and several nieces and nephews.

Sandy was born in Port Arthur, TX on November 29, 1924. He moved to southern California at age 6 and lived by Sherman Indian High School where his father, Frank, taught. Sandy served in the Navy during World War II. After receiving his Bachelor of Divinity and Master’s in History, he moved to Washington DC where he met his wife Patricia (Pat). Sandy and Pat had over 63 loving years together. Sandy and Pat moved to Omaha in 1975 and resided in Lakeside Village in Omaha, NE for the past 17 years.

Sandy was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. Sandy spent his last 35 years as a hospital chaplain at the Nebraska Medical Center, then at Lakeside Hospital. Prior to that he was an administrator (Sandy liked to joke that he was a bureaucrat) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C., and then the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

At age 95, Sandy curated Come & See: Reflections of the Life of Jesus. This book is available at Forward Movement and on Amazon. Sandy loved to read and study the Bible and its history, he had another idea for a book about Joseph, husband of Mary, father of Jesus. Sandy said he still needed to do some research which his daughter says will be easy now.

Sandy had many talents and interests. He was a member of the Nebraska Choral Arts Society and always sang in the church choirs. Singing The Messiah was Sandy’s favorite and towards the end of his life, when a tape of one of the performances was played, he seemed to be singing his part.

At Lakeside Community he supported Pat and helped with the Reader’s Theater productions. One time filling in at the last minute to take the lead role as Prometheus and even writing a sequel to one of their favorite plays about a cowboy and his fairy god cow. Sandy and Pat also served as mentors to several international students, at time taking on parental roles when support and understanding from a parent was needed. Sandy and Pat welcomed a family of 5 who fled from the violence in Afghanistan and were in need of emergency shelter, housing them until a more permanent home could be found. Through the eyes of the children 5, 12, and 14, Jennifer 12 and Carey 10 saw the world in a new way transforming their views forever. One favorite memory of Jennifer’s is the Thanksgiving when international students outnumbered family by 3:1 although on that day she realized they were all family.

Sandy touched many hearts during his 96 years. He gave unconditional love and acceptance, could bring calmness into a room and had a great sense of humor. Friends enjoyed how Sandy, after quietly listening, could sum up a discussion with a few humorous words. He will be missed.