Obituary of Wendell Franklyn Smith
Wendell F. Smith, Jr. passed away on January 26, 2020 at the Jewish Home of Rochester at the age of 88. Wendell was born in Hartford, CT to Wendell and Marjorie (Cross) Smith.
Wendell graduated from Middlebury College in 1955, where he met his wife Mimi, and then attended Harvard University where he obtained a Doctorate in Chemistry in 1960.
Following graduation, Wendell accepted a position as research chemist at Kodak in Rochester, NY and in subsequent years became a Senior Research Associate, contributing to multiple inventions patented by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. His professional focus gradually shifted from applied research to statistical design, culminating in his authorship of the book, “Experimental Design for Formulation”. Wendell also taught classes in statistical design while beta testing early design software for Stat-Ease.
Wendell believed in experiencing life fully and commented recently that he had “lived a good life”. In his youth, he enjoyed summer camp in Maine and hunting with his Whitney uncles. In his youth he mastered the piano and as a young adult, the guitar, banjo, and singing in the Barbershop Quartet at college. He was also an avid skier, known for mastering the back bowls in Vermont.
During his summers in college, Wendell installed railroad ties and worked as a ranch-hand in Ennis, Montana. It was through his experiences in the west that Wendell began his love affair with camping and backpacking. He hiked in places ranging from the Beartooth Mountains in Montana in his early years, to the Swiss Alps in his 70’s.
Wendell’s thirst for knowledge was endless and his hobbies varied from wine-making to welding, landscaping to woodturning. He was an accomplished woodturner and instrumental in the development of Lake Country Craftsmen, as well as a founder of the Rochester Woodworkers Society, an organization which continues to thrive today. Wendell sold his woodturning at various juried art shows and exhibits, as well as at Rochester area craft shops.
Together with Mimi, Wendell instilled in his four children the value of hard work, honesty, integrity, individualism, appreciation for the arts, the outdoors and love of family. His heart was full when his family was all in one place.
Wendell is survived by his loving wife Mimi, his son David (Linda) Smith, daughters Sharon (Jeffery Simmons), Debbie (Steven Battenberg), son Douglas (Jeanne Soderberg), his sister Shirley Morefield, cousin Sally (Smith) Newendyke, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. We will greatly miss his advice, intellect, love, teasing and in everyday, his presence.
The Smith family would like to extend a special thanks to Heather Heights and the Jewish Home of Rochester, Greenhouse #1, Third floor. In particular, we would like to thank Justin, Judit and Carmen for the extraordinary care and compassion provided to Wendell and his family at the Jewish Home.
With Wendell’s passion for research, remembrances may be made in the form of a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research DONATE ONLINE