Dean Smith

MADISON- Dean Smith died on April 30th. He was born on April 11, 1928 in Chicago, to Dr. & Mrs. Stanley J. Smith. He lived in Oak Park, IL, Eveleth, MN, and Belvidere, IL. He played trumpet and led the high school swing band. After graduation in 1945 at 17, he joined the John Paul Jones big band, based in Salina, KS which toured at USO shows including Port Arthur, Texas, where merchant marine sailors celebrated the Japanese surrender. He entered the University of Illinois as a music major then changed to pre-med studies, but continued to play in dance bands. He entered Northwestern Medical School in Chicago and received his MD with distinction in 1952. He interned at Cleveland City Hospital, followed by a general and thoracic surgery residency at the University of Wisconsin. In 1957 he opened what turned out to be the last career-long independent board certified surgical practice in Madison, operating at Madison General (now Meriter) Hospital in Madison, and Divine Savior Hospital in Portage. After retiring from surgery on December 31, 1991, he consulted for Social Security Disability, WPS Insurance and Medicare.

In 1951 he married Elizabeth Bircher, a pediatric nurse from Switzerland. He designed the home they have lived in for 54 years and could fix almost anything. He was preceded in death by his older brother Stanley, and his parents. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Elizabeth, daughters Christine (Tom) Vickerman of Waukesha, WI and Teresa (Greg) Barlow of Golden Valley, MN, and son Garrick (Martina) of Schoenenberg, Switzerland. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Erica, Brian (Gretchen), Kevin, and Philip Barlow; Brett and Carly Vickerman; and Ellie, Dylan, and Tyler Smith and his sister Marilyn Abbett.

He loved the Badgers, Packers, and the Arts, especially American Players Theatre and concerts at the Overture Center.

He and Elizabeth enjoyed the companionship of 8 German Shepherds during their life together. He treasured his family and cherished time spent together during their summer vacations on Grindstone Lake. He was loved and admired by his family and will be deeply missed. A celebration of his life will be held in July when his family is together. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Dane County Animal Humane Society.