In memoriam – Garth Smith (1932 – 2018)

Dear members of the Bishop’s community,

I am sorry to inform you that Garth Smith passed away at the age of 86 on Tuesday, July 31, following a stroke which he suffered on Saturday.

Garth leaves a unique and enduring legacy at Bishop’s. He was an inspiration throughout the 38 years he gave to this institution, to its athletes and his colleagues. He left an indelible impression on our community both here at Bishop’s and in the Eastern Townships.

Garth was a pioneer of our athletics program. In the 1950s, he took charge of what was still an emerging, informal organisation and helped build the great sports tradition that is synonymous with Bishop’s today.

Garth’s basketball coaching career began in 1954 as Head Coach of our women’s program. He later went on to coach the men’s team for 25 years, gaining national recognition for his work. During his coaching career, he amassed an impressive 532 victories and two provincial titles, in 1967 and 1978.

As a testament to Garth’s values, since 1985 the Garth R. Smith Team Award has gone annually to the best team player.

His passion for basketball led him to his wife, Sylvia, an award-winning chemistry graduate and captain of the basketball team, who also coached women’s basketball at Bishop’s. Her name preceded Garth’s on our Wall of Distinction.

If you have golfed in the Eastern Townships, the odds are you have met Garth in one way or another, especially at the Old Lennoxville course. He was the resident pro there from 1957 until 1991. He was also at the core of the group that launched the Milby golf course and a pro at both courses for a dozen years in the 1960s and 1970s.

At Bishop’s, Garth is remembered for his devotion to his students and his tremendous capacity for empathy. He pushed his students to succeed on the field, in the class and in the  community.One of the players he coached, Butch Staples ’67, celebrated Garth’s approach on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of Gaiters Basketball. He remembered the lengths to which Garth went to allow his students to develop and express their own personalities. That was his way to bring out the best in people, by helping them to be the best versions of themselves.

Eddie Pomykala, who succeeded Garth as men’s basketball coach, remembers how he taught him what it meant to contribute to a community. “Garth really understood what was important in life. Garth had balance: where I was focused on one thing – basketball, Garth had four  – Basketball, Golf, Family and Community. He taught us very well and left a great example showing us how to be excellent human beings.”

We express our profound condolences to Sylvia, Kimball, Jocelyn and Vicki, their family and Garth’s legion of friends and admirers.

He will be deeply missed and remembered with great admiration, respect and appreciation.

Michael Goldbloom, C.M.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor