[Sosfbay-discuss] [G-C-F] Kent Smith obituary and 3/16 service details

[Tian Harter]

I went to Kent Smith's service. It was quite touching. You can see my 
take on it at:

http://tian.greens.org/California/NevadaCounty/KentsFuneral.html

Beth Moore wrote:
 > http://theunion.com/article/20080308/OBITUARIES/365876339
 >
 > Kent Warner Smith sponsored obituary
 > 12:34 a.m. PT Mar 8, 2008
 >
 > Kent Warner Smith
 >
 > June 16, 1941 to
 > February 18, 2008
 >
 > Kent Warner Smith passed with a quiet look of delight on his face on
 > Monday, February 18, 2008 at his home in Nevada City. He was 66.
 >
 > A celebration of Kent's life will be held Sunday, March 16 at 2 pm at
 > the Nevada City Veterans Memorial Building, 415 N. Pine St. Nevada
 > City. In Kent's spirit, his family invites everyone to dress casually
 > and, if you like, wear a kooky hat. Bring your dancing shoes, favorite
 > memories, and a celebratory spirit.
 >
 > Kent will long be remembered in the Nevada County community for his
 > deep political and spiritual engagement, as well as his humor,
 > intelligence, his commitment to justice, and his fun eccentric
 > character.
 >
 > Kent's brilliance and vast knowledge of geo-political issues were
 > remarkable. Coming from a line of scholars, Kent graduated from
 > Stanford in 1964 with a BA in American History. He played for the
 > Stanford Men's soccer team and studied abroad in Italy. Kent then went
 > on to earn an MA in History at the University of California, Berkeley
 > in 1966 followed by a PhD in Diplomatic History, UC Berkeley 1972,
 > successfully completing a dissertation on U.S.-Mexican relations.
 >
 > As a graduate student, Kent was a leading organizer of non-violent
 > resistance to the Vietnam War and a dedicated activist in the Civil
 > Rights Movement. He served as the Field Secretary of the War Registers
 > League in 1972 and the Academic Coordinator for the Peace Studies
 > Program at Stanford in 1974. He also co-authored the U.S. history
 > textbook, As It Happened.
 >
 > Kent was a devoted father of two daughters, Micaela and Gabrielle, and
 > lived in Santa Cruz while raising his family with Mardi Van Winkle,
 > his former wife and co-adventurer. During this time, his creative
 > side started to emerge and he delved into sculpture, cake decorating,
 > planning family trips and creating the family game, Torpedoes and
 > Submarines which everyone loved.
 >
 > He taught History and International Relations at several institutions
 > of higher education and MBA Marketing and Management in the Silicon
 > Valley. In the mid-80s, he moved to San Francisco and founded the
 > Dream Training Institute. He was also executive director of the
 > Association of Dreams. Dreams served as a meaningful guide for Kent
 > in understanding his life and its direction.
 >
 > In 1985, he moved to Nevada County and built his beloved "Walden"
 > cabin in a spiritual community near Grass Valley. The quietude this
 > provided supported a deeply spiritual life for 12 years. During this
 >time, he was instrumental in the formation of the Green Party of
 > California and ran for both the U. S. and State Senate. He was among
 > the early pioneers in organizing the Green Party globally, in
 > particular between Canada, Mexico and the U. S. He played an important
 > role at the first Planetary Meeting of Greens held in Rio de Janeiro
 > in May 1992 immediately preceding the Earth Summit.
 >
 > Upon hearing of Kent's passing, Natalia Escuedero, former
 > vice-president of the Green Ecological Party of Mexico wrote, "Mission
 > accomplished, Kent! You served your country, society and mother Earth
 >throughout your life, demonstrating that you are a man of justice and
 > order. You have left us an example to follow."
 >
 > During the 1990s, he became president of our local FCAT station
 > producing and hosting several programs such as The Emerging Golden
 > Age, The News Hour and the Monty Python-like comedy Mid Realities with
 > friend Jerry Martin. Kent continued his community service until the
 > end of his life organizing many groups, teaching free classes and
 > mentoring others. One of his last political efforts was organizing
 > Americans for Constitutional Integrity, a group dedicated to the
 > preservation of our country's constitution and the Impeachment of
 > President Bush.
 >
 > Kent's interests were varied and included tennis, soccer, trips to the
 > family cabin, international adventure (traveling to more than 35
 > countries) reading, writing, (he authored the book People Magic: How
 > to Manifest the Relationships you Want), meditating, art (The Outlaw
 > Artists), walking the streets of Nevada City, attending cultural
 > events and cultivating and enjoying the depths of intimacy with his
 > life partner, Lynn.
 >
 > Kent was a beloved grandfather to his six grandchildren.
 > Affectionately known as "Grandpa Moustache," he loved to wrestle and
 > play soccer. He was famous for his money toss.
 >
 > In his eight-month journey through illness and healing, Kent remained
 > positive and loving, relying on an "attitude of gratitude." He focused
 > on natural healing and a method he called Healing in Style which meant
 >  going out to restaurants, watching movies and having fun. He used his
 > last time on Earth well by cultivating love and forgiveness among his
 > loved ones. It was no surprise that he died with a look of delight on
 > his face.
 >
 > Kent is survived by his life partner, Lynn Ely; daughter and
 > son-in-law, Micaela Rubalcava and Jeff Cunan of Quincy, CA; daughter
 > and son-in-law, Gabrielle Smith-Dluha and Radovan Dluhy-Smith of the
 > Czech Republic; six grandchildren: Luis, Che and Miles Rubalcava
 > Cunan, Jakub Dluhy-Smith, Theo Dluhy-Smith and Olivia Dluha; brother
 > and sister-in-law, Dan and Hannah Smith of Walnut Creek; sister and
 > brother-in-law, Nancy and Mike Anderson of Grass Valley; sister and
 > brother-in-law, Elaine and John Culverwell of Fremont; and many nieces
 > and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents, Louise Dally Smith
 > and Ralph J. Smith.
 >
 > The spirit of Kent W. Smith's life was to play, to explore, to try new
 > things, to make an impact, to stand up for justice, to serve truth,
 > and to search for God. May that spirit live on in all of us.
 >
 > Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of the Foothills.
 >
-- 
Tian
http://tian.greens.org
Latest change: added pictures from Kent Smith's funeral in Nevada City.