David Graydon Smith – 50th Reunion Essay

David Graydon Smith

Date of Death: 4-May-2009

College: Silliman

(This memorial appeared in the Class Notes September/October 2009.)

David G. Smith died of cancer at his home in Westlake, California.

From Henry Fuller: David was a special person and my Yale roommate for three years. He was born on January 20, 1947. David grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. He graduated from Middlesex School in 1965. After Yale, David served two years (1970–’72) in the Peace Corps in Micronesia. He devoted his life to the teachings of Maharaji (RAJI) and worked for his organization for close to 35 years.”

From a close friend of David: I aspire more diligently now to live in gratitude for life—and not just so I can write my book, or watch another sunset, or further the relationships that matter, but so I can enjoy the contentment that comes from knowing that life is indeed a gift. A force that comes mysteriously into a being and just as mysteriously leaves—its fleeting presence a reminder of its power to those of us left behind.

From Yannis Simonides: He was private, kind, unobtrusive, generous.

From Claude Thau: David and I were roommates freshman year, but I hardly ever saw him. He was very quiet, kept to himself… I obviously missed out on developing a relationship with a good individual. It is sad how we can pass each other in life without understanding each other.