Page 25 - WNS 2022 E-Program Booklet

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Randall William Smith
October 29, 1938 - October 25, 2021
For those relatively new to the Western Neurosurgical Society, we are
saddened that you have been robbed of knowing a truly remarkable
character of the WNS. Dr. Randy Smith has been a permanent feature
of the WNS since 1974, when he was elected an active member. To say
that he was an institution is both an understatement and rather vague.
However, for those who knew Randy, there is nothing vague about this
giant figure being the life and soul of the WNS for nearly 50 years. Be-
low is a tribute to Dr. Smith, gathered from various sources, especially
from Dr. Smith’s family, the obituary written by his dear friend, Dr.
Moustapha Abou-Samra in the California Association of Neurological
Surgeons (CANS) newsletter, and the special memorial edition of the
CANS, where many who loved and admired Randy shared their memo-
ries of him.
Dr. Smith never took senior membership status as he never retired from
active committee work. He was the chair of the communications commit-
th
tee when he passed away early morning on October 25 , 2021, just 4
rd
days shy of his 83 birthday. This was true not only for the WNS, but for
other organizations, such as the CANS, the Council of State Neurosurgi-
cal Societies (CSNS) and the American Association of Neurological Sur-
geons (AANS), where he was actively engaged on their committees.
th
In 2004, Dr. Smith presided as President of the WNS at the 50 Annual
Meeting held at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, in his home city of San Diego,
CA. He had been in all other roles in the executive committee and much
more. Many colleagues will know him as being hugely involved and influ-
ential in organized neurosurgery, but relatively few know about his hum-
ble beginnings, his service to his country, his talent as a wood crafts-
man, his love of his family and his trials and tribulations on being an
avocado farmer. At his memorial, which was organized by the Smith
family, his daughter, Christine showed a set of tools found in his pockets
on the morning he died. He was forever ready and motivated to work, fix
things and create new stuff. One wonders what elixir he was on, other
than simply a love for life and the unrelenting love and support of his
wife, Florence Smith, RN.

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