Edward Smith Obituary, Death – Edward Smith, Professor of History, passed away without incident on March 11, 2023. Smith, who had been a resident of Washington, DC for three generations, was eighty years old. It was in 1969 when he helped found The Heights School, where he worked as a teacher until the 1970s. His professional academic career began at that time. Nearly at the same time, he started working as a professor at American University, where he remained until 2014.
During his time at American University, Smith made history by becoming the first African-American educator to be awarded a tenured professorship. He was also a co-founder of the Civil War Institute at American University. Smith was employed by the Carter Administration at the White House during the years 1976–1978 while on sabbatical from the University of Arizona. He worked as the assistant speech writer for Midge Costanza, who was the presidential assistant. In 1997, he was one of the co-founders of the Youth Leadership Foundation, which was established in partnership with two Catholic Study Centers.
Since its founding in 1997, the organization has assisted the personal growth of over 4,000 children and adolescents living in the District of Columbia. The wisdom, wit, and humor that Smith shared through his words will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former students. His children Todd, Dawn, Christopher, Austin, and SGT Chad, as well as his grandson Coby, will carry on his legacy after he has passed away. Sgt. Justin, who passed away previously, came before him.
His funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 10 a.m. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is located at 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW in Washington, DC. In the immediate aftermath, a burial service will be held at Washington National Cemetery in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland. Here, Professor Smith will be laid to rest alongside his late wife Mary Magdalene Jefferson Smith and in close proximity to his late mother Rachel Willis.