Owen Smith, who helped establish the Community Colleges of Denver and was their first president, died in Longmont on March 31. He was 86.
Smith “was bigger than life,” said Josie Heath, a Boulder county commissioner, who once worked for him at Red Rocks College.
“He was a visionary, artistic, athletic, handsome, and could relate to anyone,” Heath said.
She said Smith drafted legislation that was passed by the Colorado General Assembly to create the community college system.
He was the first president of Red Rocks College and hired Heath to open the Women’s Center — which was aimed at getting women into nontraditional classes, encouraging women who had left college to return and helping them find child care.
The system included Front Range Community College and Community College of Denver, on the Auraria campus.
Smith loved to take classes himself, and took welding, jewelry making and stained glass.
Always modest, he never told the welding class who he was, except for his name, said his wife, Mary Smith.
When the class was nearly over, one of the students, who called Smith “Smitty,” said: “You know, you’re pretty good at welding. I could get you a job where I work.”
Smith thanked him but said he already had a job.
At graduation ceremonies the welding student said to his friend, “Hey, what’s Smitty doing up there in a cap and gown?”
Smith’s son, Kent Smith of Walsenburg, said he learned discipline from his dad.
“You paid attention because you knew he was demanding and didn’t expect you to make a mistake the second time,” Smith said.
Owen Smith’s advice always came roundabout, whether the subject was getting more education or climbing some of the state’s 14,000-foot peaks, said close family friend Richard Ratliff of Pueblo.
An expert skier, Owen pushed himself as well. He rode a bicycle until he was 84, made stained glass windows and doors and made furniture for his Breckenridge cabin.
Owen Smith was born in Louisville on March 1, 1922, and was a flight instructor during World War II.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in science from Colorado State University, a master’s in counseling from the University of Denver and a doctorate in education administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
He taught science and coached basketball in Pueblo before being named assistant superintendent of School District 60 in Pueblo.
He was a past president of the Colorado Education Association, CSU Alumnus of the year in 2001 and a past president of the National Association of State Education Presidents.
He and his first wife, Donna Sullivan Smith, had three children. They later divorced.
He married Mary Buerger in 1973.
In addition to her and his son, he is survived by his daughter, Sally War of Clakamas, Ore., and his stepdaughter, Barbara Matthews of Port Townsend, Wash. His son Greg Smith died in 2003.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
