Necrology
Henry Bradford Smith '59
Nov. 24, 1936-Nov. 17, 2020
At the University of Rochester, Henry Bradford Smith ’59 applied his expertise as a longtime librarian to mentoring students in debate. His life and career exemplified what he noted in his 50th reunion yearbook: “I believe that Hamilton College gave me the broad background necessary to multitask responsibilities in a number of different disciplines.”
Born to Henry and Lillie Wright Smith in Philadelphia on Nov. 24, 1936, Smith grew up in Manhattan where he attended the Trinity School and, later, the Taft School in Watertown, Conn. On College Hill he majored in history and participated in the Young Republican and Geology clubs.
Smith earned two master’s degrees: one in information science from Syracuse University and one in history from the University of Rochester, where he would spend 35 years working at the Rush Rhees Library as a bibliographer for history, law, and Jewish studies in the reference department, which he later headed.
After retiring in 1999 while in his 60s, Smith noted in the reunion yearbook that he “became restless.” That’s when he returned to the university and spent the next 20 years helping with the debate team. He relished the opportunity to look at issues from many perspectives, something he saw as a critical life skill in today’s increasingly complex and global society.
“His success in locating materials to bolster arguments for debate topics and his tireless hands-on support for the annual invitational debate tournament was recognized by the Union’s naming that event in his honor,” a published obituary noted.
Smith belonged to the Genesee Conservation League and was a longtime member of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church. He was a member of the American Historical Society for more than 50 years and enjoyed attending its annual conferences around the country.
On Nov. 17, 2020, Smith died at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Jane, two daughters and two step-children, and five grandchildren. His cousin is Robin Davis ’84.
