J. Brian Smith's Obituary
Joseph Brian Smith, 54, passed away at his home in Annapolis April 8, in the arms of his loving wife, Jennifer, after a two year battle with colon cancer.
Brian was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on December 7, 1956, but spent most of his childhood in Salem, Ohio. He graduated from Salem High School in 1975, attended Duquesne University, and graduated with a degree in Management and Humanities from Emory University in 1980. After earning an M.B.A. from Drexel University in 1984, Brian joined the Peace Corps, serving as a small business advisor first in Liberia and then in Malawi, Central Africa. It was in Malawi that he met his wife of 21 years, Jennifer Goodwin Smith. Brian’s career included many jobs such as serving as a Food Aid Monitor for USAID in Malawi, and starting a recycling center in Southern Maryland. He worked as an Administrative Officer with Peace Corps from 1994 – 1999 in Micronesia and Thailand. It was while living overseas that he and Jennifer started their family, which was the primary focus of Brian’s life. The majority of Brian’s career was spent working for the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC. While there, he spearheaded the design and capital campaign of a new 127,000 square foot food distribution center. A towering figure, he was instrumental in helping to raise the 37 million dollars that will enable the building to be completed in April 2012. His 10 year commitment to the Food Bank enabled 200 million pounds of food be distributed to 700 food programs, ensuring that 480,000 people would be fed annually.
Brian is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and two sons, Thomas and William (Liam) of Annapolis; his father, Thomas (Ich) Smith; brother, Thomas Smith, Jr.; and sister Martha Crean, all of Pittsburgh; sister Missy Slaathaug of South Dakota, and 13 nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Margaret (Pud) Smith.
Brian will be remembered for his interest in and respect for other cultures, his strong environmental ethic, his commitment to serving others, his love for and devotion to his family, and the tremendous sense of fun and humor that he instilled in all that he did.
A visitation will be held on Monday, April 11, 4-7 p.m. at Eastport United Methodist Church, 926 Bay Ridge Avenue. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, followed by lunch in the fellowship hall.
Friends wishing to honor Brian’s life can make donations to the Capital Area Food Bank at Capitalareafoodbank.org, 645 Taylor Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017,or the Malawi Children’s Village through Malawichildrensvillage.org, or the Alaska Community Foundation, Malawi Children’s Fund, 400 L Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501.
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