A gifted educator. A passionate pianist. A remarkable scholar.
Norm Smith, who passed away on August 26 at the Lakeshore General Hospital, was the first chair of the Department of Mathematics at Sir George Williams University. He joined Sir George Williams in 1952, spending more than a decade of his 30 years at Concordia assembling a family of mathematicians who were happy to teach six full courses a year with enthusiasm and dedication.
What made Norman Smith special in the academic world was his talent for great teaching. You could go into his office, always open and inviting, and spend hours discussing the fine points of teaching the entire gamut of the mathematics curriculum.
He knew the deeper meaning of what he set out to teach. The title of his doctoral dissertation was “A statistical problem in the geometry of numbers,” a topic spanning several areas of mathematics. This broad, almost interdisciplinary, approach to the study and use of mathematics stood Norm in good stead as he set out to build a strong mathematics department. He could talk knowledgeably about many fields. He was a whiz at manipulating two-dimensional structures called matrices. He used this insight to teach linear algebra, a key component of every mathematics curriculum, like few others.
Today, his spirit lives on in a department that has produced outstanding mathematicians and senior leaders in this university and elsewhere. The department has thousands of successful graduates in many fields, and has moved from a department teaching largely part-time students to a research-oriented department offering several master’s and doctoral programs.
On a more personal note, Norm, as he was known, loved to entertain, both in the Faculty Club of Sir George and at home. He played the piano with a passion and led many a singsong to big crowds, with a glass of the best. Grey Cup night was always an annual highlight at the Smith’s house. Clearly, Norm had mastered the work-life balance we all strive to achieve.
Surrounded by family, friends, and visitors, Norm was our cheerleader, coach, and manager. Much of the food on the table was homegrown and served with elegance and pride. He was close to nature and a gardener with a passion. Nobody could grow pumpkins and squash of the size and quality like Norm.
Norm was affable, astute and accessible — essential qualities in getting the job done. Some of us, having been hired and trained by him, are proud to carry the torch in the name of Dr. Norman Edward Smith, the pioneer. Thank you Norman.
Fred E Szabo, September 7, 2014