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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Kirby James
Smith
February 6, 1926 – October 27, 2015
Obituary
Obituary of Kirby Smith
Kirby James Smith, 89, died on October 27, 2015. He was born on February 6, 1926 in Des Moines, IA, the son of the late Charles Norris and Louise Ann Smith, and moved with them to Philadelphia in 1940.
A WWII veteran, Mr. Smith enlisted in the US Navy at age 17, after graduating from Brown Preparatory School (Philadelphia). He received an appointment to the US Naval Academy after serving in the Navy for 2 years. Later he received academic degrees from the University of Chicago (BA), Temple University (MA) and Columbia University (M Phil). He had a successful career as a research psychologist and taught and carried out research studies at Eastern Penna Psychiatric Institute and the Biokinetics Research Laboratory of Temple University. He championed the importance of sound methodology in psychophysiology. Seeing great promise in the field of biomedical engineering, he founded 2 research companies. His lifelong interests included Scotland and Scottish culture, especially bagpipe music, and Native American culture. He took great joy in pursuing independent mathematical research.
He was a loving husband to his wife of 57 years, Jody; a loving father to sons Andrew and Gavin, of Philadelphia, and daughter Gillian (Randall) Smith of Orcas Island, WA; and delighted in his grandchildren Braeden, Olivia, and Nathan, also of Orcas Island.
Funeral arrangements are private.
Kirby James Smith, 89, died on October 27, 2015. He was born on February 6, 1926 in Des Moines, IA, the son of the late Charles Norris and Louise Ann Smith, and moved with them to Philadelphia in 1940.
A WWII veteran, Mr. Smith enlisted in the US Navy at age 17, after graduating from Brown Preparatory School (Philadelphia). He received an appointment to the US Naval Academy after serving in the Navy for 2 years. Later he received academic degrees from the University of Chicago (BA), Temple University (MA) and Columbia University (M Phil). He had a successful career as a research psychologist and taught and carried out research studies at Eastern Penna Psychiatric Institute and the Biokinetics Research Laboratory of Temple University. He championed the importance of sound methodology in psychophysiology. Seeing great promise in the field of biomedical engineering, he founded 2 research companies. His lifelong interests included Scotland and Scottish culture, especially bagpipe music, and Native American culture. He took great joy in pursuing independent mathematical research.
He was a loving husband to his wife of 57 years, Jody; a loving father to sons Andrew and Gavin, of Philadelphia, and daughter Gillian (Randall) Smith of Orcas Island, WA; and delighted in his grandchildren Braeden, Olivia, and Nathan, also of Orcas Island.
Funeral arrangements are private.
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