Roderick Eugene Smith II

Fire Chief, author and poet, Roderick E. “Rick” Smith II, 82, passed away peacefully on September 13th in
Redmond, WA. Born in Flint, MI, to Roderick E. Smith and Mary Margaret Montpas Smith.
Rick is survived by his wife of 36 years and love of his life, Bonne VeVea, who devotedly cared for him
until the end. He is also survived by daughters Cathy Davis (James), Melissa Smith-Tourville (Mandy),
and their mother Billie Jean Smith; sons Rod Smith (Jessica), and Kelan Smith (Lauren), and their mother
Megan Lantry; 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, who affectionately refer to him as Grandpa
Santa. Surviving also are sisters Zetta Wojcik and Michaele Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In the afterlife he joins his mother and father, brothers David and Jerry, and sisters Sandi and Joanie.
A stand-out football athlete in school, Rick later became a Navy Hospital Corpsman working in Obstetrics
in Key West, FL. While a Corpsman, he played semi-pro football with the Key West Jaguars and also
worked as a nighttime disc jockey. Following his Naval service, he began a 46 year career in Fire Service,
beginning with 10 years in Wayne, MI, (Sergeant and Fire Investigator); then 6 years in Palm Springs
(Engineer, Captain and Lieutenant), while concurrently serving with the Palm Springs Police Reserve Unit
(Sergeant). In 1978, he accepted a Fire Captain position on Mercer Island, WA, shortly thereafter
becoming Deputy Fire Chief. In 1981, Rick took on a new role with the Port of Seattle as Fire Chief of
Sea-Tac International Airport. During this time, he served on the Board of Directors at the Washington
State Fire Training Academy in North Bend, helping to develop and establish the statewide training
program and facility. Following his 14 years at Sea-Tac, he served with the Washington State Patrol as
Assistant State Fire Marshall and later as Director of the Skagit County 911 Communications Center,
where he spent another 6 years before retirement.
Rick was a graduate of the University of Washington. Coinciding with an illustrious fire service career,
Rick’s lifelong love of words led to another career as author, poet and Creative Writing Instructor. His
published works include two books of poetry, The Window Ledge and A Sweeter Understanding. The
latter received the Silver Medallion Award for best new book by the PME Benjamin Franklin Awards.
He deeply loved his family and friends, and was affectionately known as Papa Rick to his kids’ friends,
who enjoyed his humor and his hospitality. Rick most enjoyed reading and teaching, fishing and football,
and showing visitors around the Pacific Northwest. He was always willing to help others, whether that
meant fighting a wildfire, delivering a baby, or showing up as Santa at various charitable events.
Aptly, this chapter of his life closes and the next begins with Rick’s familiar expression of contented
arrival: “Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.”
Rick is interred at Tahoma National Cemetery. A celebration of Rick’s life will be announced at a later
date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Association.

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