T. Michael Smithson

T. Michael Smithson of Glen Carbon, died at Anderson Hospital on January 28, 2025. He was born February 12, 1937, in Hamilton, Ohio, the son of Thomas and Catherine (Lenihan) Smithson.
Married to Marian Grover Smithson for 60 years, he was a loving husband and father of Michael Edward Smithson (Arlene) of Farmington, Michigan and Lauri Smithson Meeks (Dennis) of Puyallup, Washington. Mike greatly enjoyed time with his family, especially family celebrations and summer vacation trips to the Outer Banks and Mexico. He was known for his warm and sunny disposition, dry humor, and quick wit. 
Mike received both his baccalaureate in education (1960) and master’s degree in history (1967) from Miami University (Ohio). He was a student of Europe since 1914, with particular interest in the post-war period. From early years as a high school teacher through time as a university administrator, he taught classes about the importance of these years in human history. He was a popular teacher and long remembered by some of his earliest students.
In 1964-66, he served as Assistant Dean of Students at Wilmington College (Ohio) then returned to Miami University as Assistant Registrar in 1966. A year later, he helped open Miami’s new regional campus, becoming its first Director of Admission and Records. In these years, he was a member or officer of several universities, community and professional organizations. He retired in 1993. 
Mike and Marian then moved to Glen Carbon, Illinois where Marian accepted a position at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). He opted to return to work – first in the SIUE advising center and later as an assistant to the Dean of Nursing. He became a full-time retiree in 2001 and enjoyed reading and sharing new books, especially first edition mysteries, with other avid readers. 
Mike traveled Europe and Russia extensively before marriage and continued to enjoy travel in the US and abroad with Marian and their children. Mike loved theater, show music, and classical music. For several years he volunteered time to assist the Miami University – Hamilton students with their Campus Players group productions.
A Requiem Mass will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 1, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Edwardsville, followed by a reception.  The family requests that, rather than flowers, memorial gifts be made to The Center for Dementia Research or the T. Michael Smithson Scholarship at Miami University for nursing and communications/theater majors, as well as other students.  Condolences may be expressed online at weberfuneralhome.com.
 

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