I could go on and on about Mike Smith. Hours actually. But that would not be good.
Mike, a cherished friend who died last Friday after a relatively short but particularly painful battle with pancreatic cancer, wasn’t one to belabor a point and had little tolerance for those who did. That was just one of his many virtues.
One of his others was that he was whip-smart. I learned that early on in our friendship when someone challenged him on a point of history.
Let’s just say it did not go well for the other fellow. As the expression goes, it was like taking a knife to a gun fight.
Of course, it would have been even more of a bloodletting if the self-described know-it-all had taken on Mike over a point of English grammar.
Or how to build a cross country or track team, and how to make everyone – from the star runner to the slowest runner – feel at the heart of the squad’s eventual success.
He was that kind of guy. A true prince of a fellow. A Hall of Fame coach and a Hall of Fame friend, husband, father, and grandfather.
He also was a man of few words—all well-chosen.
Particularly after one Michigan-Michigan State football game that we attended at the Big House several years ago. It had all the makings of a banner Maize and Blue day until something ghastly happened in the waning seconds – a botched punt, a lucky bounce, a green-and-white
parade to the goal line right in front of our shell-shocked eyes.
All of a sudden, Mike and I were speechless – except for one word.
The F-bomb. It seemed like the only appropriate thing to say. And say it we did. Repeatedly, as we dragged ourselves out of Michigan Stadium.
Cursing, on occasion, can be good for the soul, even for a man of letters, who taught English and history for more than 30 years before retiring from the classroom.
We first crossed paths back in the early ‘80s when a young cross country coach and a fledgling newspaperman were starting journeys along their respective career paths.
I remember well going out to take the team pictures one of those early years in his coaching reign. It didn’t take long to complete the photo assignment. There were just a handful of girls on the squad that season. On the boys’ side, a few more turned out. I could write their names in BIG PRINT on a 3-by-5 index card.
A few years later, it was a much different story. I needed a wide-angle lens to capture the images. I also needed a trusted assistant to write down all the names.
Wow, I thought.
This “Mike Smith fellow” is a builder, a developer, an architect in every sense of the words.
Before long, we became good friends, sharing a love of running, U-M basketball, and downhill skiing. In fact, a decade or so ago, on a ski trip to Utah, we became especially close friends when we were stranded on a chair lift for more than an hour, clinging for our lives in 70 mph winds during a blinding snowstorm. That is when I discovered that this man had guts; this man had stamina; this man had a special something about him.
That strength, courage, and love of life were in full view over the past two weeks when he and his beloved wife Mary made a cross-country trip to Eugene, Ore. to see a “bucket list” item – the U.S. Olympic Trials for track and field athletes.
It turned out to be a trip of a lifetime, a trip where those of us who loved and admired him hoped that he could muster one last miraculous kick down the home stretch to pull out a victory over a particularly nasty foe called cancer.
Alas, it was not to be.
But, in metaphorical terms, he had already run the ultimate “good race” in life, the kind to be treasured and long remembered.
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Obituary
Michael Gordon Smith of Ann Arbor died at his home on Friday, June 25, 2021 at the age of 72.
The son of Gordon and Areta (Miller) Smith, Michael was born on January 11, 1949, in Jackson, Mich. He was a 1967 graduate of Napoleon High School and attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1971 with a degree in English and history. Following in his father’s footsteps, Michael pursued a career in education, teaching for 5 years at Grass Lake High School and for 28 years at Saline High School before retiring from the classroom in 2005.
From junior high on, Mike successfully balanced academics and athletics. He participated in football, cross country, basketball, baseball and track. Although he was extremely successful on the basketball court, running became his passion and in many ways was a guiding force throughout his life. After completing his track career at the University of Michigan, Mike channeled his athletic ambitions into coaching and long distance running. He was one of the approximately 150 participants in the inaugural Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, and he completed numerous marathons including the 100th running of the Boston Marathon.
Known as one of the most outstanding and beloved teachers in Saline, “Mr. Smith” guided hundreds of students to become capable writers, and he worked tirelessly to instill a commitment to learning, a love of literature and an ability to think freely and independently. Because of his dedication and hard work, the Advanced Placement U.S. History program at Saline High was among the most successful in the area.
Mike’s mentorship and guidance of young people carried over from the classroom to the sidewalks and roads of Saline where hundreds of his runners, in both track and cross country, logged thousands of miles as they worked to become successful/dedicated/elite athletes, devoted team members, and most importantly, good people. “Coach” led his teams with integrity, enthusiasm and commitment to both the sport and his runners. Coach created a positive and inclusive culture where young men and women could be part of something that brought out the best in each individual, which included being supportive and responsible to the team. He connected with everyone and shared his belief that, “The person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are.”
Saline runners achieved success at all levels with conference, regional and state championships. Many of his athletes went on to run at universities around the country. Some became teachers and coaches. By far, Mike’s greatest legacy could be traced to the hundreds of student-athletes who incorporated healthy behaviors, a commitment to fitness and a strong work ethic into their daily lives. “Saline CC Forever” was not just a catch phrase but rather a pledge to continue to represent the team, the community, their families and themselves at the highest possible level.
Mike was an avid reader, a life-long learner, a downhill skier, and a dedicated Michigan fan. He valued time with his family and traveling with his wife of 28 years and best friend, Mary. His spirit, poise, charisma, and devotion are legend. His was a race well run. Those who knew him will not forget. Those who loved him will keep him close.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Gordon, his mother, Areta and his brother-in-law Jack Kaufman. He will always be found in the thoughts of his wife, Mary; his four sisters, Karyn Kaufman, Judy Robinson (Joe), Stephanie Smith (Carmine) and Jill Finch (Roy); his sons, Travis (Ning) and Ryan (Zuzana); his step-daughter Megan Pashnik (Erik); his seven grandchildren – Jasmina, Hunter, Xavier, Mason, Summer, Anne, and Max; and his many nieces and nephews.
At his request, there will be no funeral service. Those who wish to leave a memory or tribute may do so on the CaringBridge website: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikesmith21. Donations in Mike’s name can be made to the Coach Smith Scholarship Fund: http://www.friendsofsalinexc.org/donate.
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