Honoring the Memory of Professor Leo Smith

Professor Emeritus Leo Smith passed away on Aug. 3, at John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington, and is being remembered for the wisdom he’d frequently share with others, as well as his popularity among students. 

Smith, 81, worked at the University of Hartford as a full-time mechanical engineering professor from 1978-2007, then part-time from 2007-2013. During his tenure, he also served as MAAE department chair, as a member and chair of the Faculty Senate, and with the Emeriti Association.

He received the Professor of the Year award within UHart’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture five times, the Trachtenberg Award for Sustained Service to the University of Hartford in 2004, and the Hartford Section of the ASME Distinguished Engineer of the Year Award in 2015.

While he left a great impression on his students, faculty, and staff looked up to him as well.

“Personally, Leo was a great mentor. During his ‘cigar’ time outside UT Hall, I had great conversations with him and learned a lot from him,” says CETA Dean Hisham Alnajjar.

Smith studied chemical engineering at the University of Connecticut, where he met his future wife Patricia McFarland, and then received his PhD at Yale University. He taught at Drexel University in Philadelphia prior to moving to the Tariffville section of Simsbury and working at UHart.

His hobbies included fly fishing and gardening, reading mysteries and non-fiction, and enjoying classical and opera music.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury. See his full obituary.