Obituary of Dennis Smith

Dennis M. Smith, age 55, passed away from complications of lymphoma at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington on Thursday afternoon, October 25, 2007. He was Professor of Biological Sciences at Wellesley College and Faculty Director of the Science Center at the college. Professor Smith was born and raised in Chicago Illinois. He was the son of the late Stanley and Elaine Smith. He was a graduate of Lane Technical High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University and his Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cellular Biology from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Professor Smith loved sharing his passion for science with the students at Wellesley College. He had been a Professor at the College for 28 years and had a strong loyalty to the college, faculty, and its students. He enjoyed mentoring students to prepare them for careers in biological research. He was proud of his student’s accomplishments in the research and medical fields. He was well known as a laboratory scientist; and his technical specialty was electron microscopy. He did research on human lung development, lung disease, and Rett Syndrome. He will be sadly missed on the campus. Professor Smith had a number of interests and hobbies. He was a talented and enthusiastic cook and photographer. He enjoyed military history. He was active member of St. Malachy’s Church and its choir. He was an avid baseball fan, and followed the Red Sox closely. Professor Smith’s family was most important to him and he enjoyed traveling all over the world with them and spending time with them at their vacation home in Wells, Maine. Professor Smith is the beloved husband of Sally K Sommers Smith of Burlington. He is the loving father of Matthew Sommers Smith of Burlington. He is the brother of Nancy Smith of Pala, CA. He is the son of the late Stanley & Elaine Smith. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 29 at 7 p.m. at St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dennis’s name may be made to the St. Malachy’s Church Memorial Fund, 99 Bedford St., Burlington, MA 01803. Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, BURLINGTON.