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Rev. David W. Smith

Deceased: 2022-09-13

Diocese: ST PAUL-MINNEAPOLIS

CSM Graduation Year: 1970


Reverend David Whitten Smith passed peacefully on September 13th at Fairview Ridges Hospital. He was born April 19th, 1937 in White Plains, New York.

He is survived by his sister Kathy Krieger (Mike Krieger) and her brother Peter Smith (Sue Smith), as well as his nieces Kathy Smith Vassy (Sam Vassy) and Jeanne Tutt (Bill Tutt), his nieces and nephew Ted Krieger, Beth Krieger, and Marian Krieger, and his grand nieces and nephew Ashley and Frog Vassy and Raven Emmons.

Father Smith was very active in the Justice and Peace community, traveling extensively to the barrios and trouble spots of the world, especially Palestine and Iraq, presenting around the world. He graduated from the University of Saint Thomas, took graduate studies at Columbia University, the University of Minnesota, and Fordham University. He was ordained a priest and then studied at the Pontifical University of St Thomas – Angelicum in Rome, Italy, taking Licentiate and doctoral degrees, Catholic University through the Vatican (SSB degree), and Ecole Biblique et Archeologique de Jerusalem (SSL degree.) Father Smith was a former Assistant Pastor at John the Baptist and Nativity of Our Lord parishes before serving for thirty-seven years as Professor of Theology at the University of Saint Thomas. He created the Department of Justice and Peace at the University and was chairman of the department until he retired as Professor Emeritus.

There will be a showing and service in the Chapel of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the campus Thursday, September 15th (viewing from five to eight, service at 7). His Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop Friday, September 16th at 10:30 with viewing preceding it in the chapel.