Obituary for Robert Alexander "Rob" Smellie
Robert Alexander Smellie, 62, passed away at home in West Hartford, CT, on Saturday, January 6, 2018, after an extended illness. He was born on January 27, 1955, in Hartford, CT, son of now deceased parents Prof. Robert Henderson Smellie, Jr., of Glasgow, Scotland and Dorothy Lee Jones Smellie of Cumberland, KY.
Rob is survived by his two sisters Mary S. DeLibero and Margaret S. (Peggy) Glass, his nephew Anthony Philip DeLibero and Anthony's wife, Laura Jackson DeLibero, his nephew Mark Edward DeLibero, his nephew John Carter Glass, his two grand nephews James Anthony DeLibero and John Douglas DeLibero, and his grand niece Violet Sophia Glass.
Rob was a 1973 graduate of William H. Hall High School in West Hartford, CT, earned his B.S. in Mathematics as a Cum Laude graduate from Syracuse University in 1977 and earned his M.S. in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1982.
In his career, he used his knowledge of advanced mathematics and his "outside the box thinking" to solve challenging engineering problems starting at United Technologies and later at General Dynamics. Eventually, he chose to share his gift of teaching and mentoring others as a teacher of mathematics, serving as Lecturer in Mathematics at Central Connecticut State University and Tunxis Community College. He took great pleasure in contributing to the success of his students.
Rob loved sports, played baseball as a youth in a junior league, and remained an avid and faithful Mets fan his entire life. He is, perhaps, best remembered for his considerable intelligence, his delightful sense of humor and his kind and peace-loving soul.
Friends may call at the Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, on Friday, January 19th, from 5:00 to 7:00p.m.;we will celebrate Rob’s life in a Service of Remembrance, on Saturday, January 20th, 11:00a.m.,at Rocky Hill Congregational Church, 805 Old Main St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067.For more information, or to send online condolences to the family, please visit www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Science Center (by mail to 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103, online at CTScienceCenter.org/give, or by calling (860) 520-2129), supporting the growth, learning, imagination and free spirit of children in honor of Rob’s own free spirit.
Rob is survived by his two sisters Mary S. DeLibero and Margaret S. (Peggy) Glass, his nephew Anthony Philip DeLibero and Anthony's wife, Laura Jackson DeLibero, his nephew Mark Edward DeLibero, his nephew John Carter Glass, his two grand nephews James Anthony DeLibero and John Douglas DeLibero, and his grand niece Violet Sophia Glass.
Rob was a 1973 graduate of William H. Hall High School in West Hartford, CT, earned his B.S. in Mathematics as a Cum Laude graduate from Syracuse University in 1977 and earned his M.S. in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1982.
In his career, he used his knowledge of advanced mathematics and his "outside the box thinking" to solve challenging engineering problems starting at United Technologies and later at General Dynamics. Eventually, he chose to share his gift of teaching and mentoring others as a teacher of mathematics, serving as Lecturer in Mathematics at Central Connecticut State University and Tunxis Community College. He took great pleasure in contributing to the success of his students.
Rob loved sports, played baseball as a youth in a junior league, and remained an avid and faithful Mets fan his entire life. He is, perhaps, best remembered for his considerable intelligence, his delightful sense of humor and his kind and peace-loving soul.
Friends may call at the Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, on Friday, January 19th, from 5:00 to 7:00p.m.;we will celebrate Rob’s life in a Service of Remembrance, on Saturday, January 20th, 11:00a.m.,at Rocky Hill Congregational Church, 805 Old Main St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067.For more information, or to send online condolences to the family, please visit www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Science Center (by mail to 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103, online at CTScienceCenter.org/give, or by calling (860) 520-2129), supporting the growth, learning, imagination and free spirit of children in honor of Rob’s own free spirit.