Amherst Magazine Hubbard M. Smith '57

Deceased May 8, 2014

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50th Reunion book entry

In Memory

Class President Hub Smith died May 8, 2014, at home. He was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and graduated from Pelham Memorial High School. He served in the U.S. Army after Amherst and then began a 27-year career at Time Inc. He started in the mail room and then assumed increased responsibilities at Life, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines. For two years he managed the Time-Life office in Paris. Prior to leaving Time Inc. he oversaw production of Time worldwide.

In 1985 Hub returned to Amherst, where he worked in the alumni office until his retirement in 1995. His final assignment was production of the last printed copy of the Amherst Biographical Record. As a loyal alumnus, Hub served as an alumni fund class agent and class reunion chairman before being elected class president at our 55th reunion.

Eleven years ago Hub underwent a serious operation that unfortunately left him paralyzed and presumably unable to walk again. After bravely and uncomplainingly enduring months of rehabilitation, Hub taught himself to walk, a feat nobody other than Hub thought was possible.

Hub and Linda gathered the family each summer at their camp on Canada Lake, N.Y., where Hub enjoyed presiding over his four (perfect) grandchildren. In addition to Linda, his wife of almost 50 years, Hub is survived by his daughter, Alison Smith Mitchell; his son, Steven Montgomery Smith; grandchildren Mathew and Claire Williamson and Meghan and Sarah Smith; and a sister, Susan Smith Parkhurst.

In Amherst, Hub was a committed volunteer. He was an active member of First Congregational Church UCC and served as president of the Amherst Club and on numerous local boards. His thoughtful intelligence, innate sense of fairness and keen sense of humor served all who knew him.

Hub was kind, thoughtful, generous and loving. He will be remembered fondly and sorely missed.

William McC. Vickery ’57

50th Reunion

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GREETINGS TO ALL '57ERS AND FAMILIES, AND THOSE OTHERS WHO ARE CURIOUS (BRAVE?) ENOUGH TO BE READING THESE JOTTINGS:

(Future social anthropologists will revel in what they glean from Amherst's Class of 1957!)

Some of my classmates have heard me chide them by saying that it took them twice as long to get through Amherst as it did me. In my two (freshman, sophomore) years on campus, I was an extra-curricular over­ achiever and an academic under-achiever. Jolly-old Dean C. Scott Porter encouraged me to get my military service out of the way and mature a bit in the process, then feel free to come back whenever I was ready; I would be welcome. (I came back, but 30 years later as a member of the administration, never having finished up anywhere else.)

My two years, though, were productive in that Ilearned the hard way that I would really have to prioritize responsibly as well as focus on the task at hand if I'm to achieve anything significant as I face life's challenges, and also productive in the sense that I made many friends on campus and still treasure those memories and friendships today. I'm grateful that (at least outwardly!) you treat me as a full-fledged member of the class. Beginning in September of 1953, fifty-two years ago, I was happy and proud to be a member of the Class of 1957, and those feelings were confirmed and solidified from my vantage point in the Alumni Office working with the entire alumni/ae body. We as a class have remained cohesive, cooperative, productive, involved, contributory financially and in deeds, and generally concerned about the welfare of the college and each other. We have had superb leadership which has led to some wonderful reunions, both officially on campus and unofficially at smaller private gatherings elsewhere, and we demonstrate a genuine caring and support of each other, our spouses and families.

I suffered a spinal cord injury in April of 2003 resulting in paraplegia, and I spent five months in hospitals and recovery facilities. My family told me later that I had undergone two near-death experiences and that they had been told I probably wouldn't pull through, then that I might not ever get out of bed, then that I  might be confined to a wheelchair, etc. As I continued to sail beyond the expectations, the professionals stopped predicting and began just shaking their heads in amazement. ("Amazing" and "incredible" are two words that they used often, by the way, and still do.) I didn't know at the time how sick I was, and I still don't know all of the details and don't want to know. All I knew was that I couldn't move my legs or feel sensation there, and I didn't like that. But I also realized that I couldn't reverse what had happened, so let's try to make the most of a lousy situation. In doing so, both in the medical facilities and later at home, I was tremendously bolstered by the knowledge that many good folks out there were rooting for me. That very much included Amherst '57 classmates. I will remain forever grateful for your many supportive phone calls, visits, cards, letters, inquiries of Linda and messages via her. In large part, it was these friends of 50+ years, you, who helped to pull me through by letting me know you were there and you cared. It was a thrill for me to be able to attend the Homecoming Class Dinner in 2003, in a wheelchair. I did it in 2004 using a walker and in 2005 on a cane.That's fantastic progress, and I thank you for your tremendous support and friendship.

Very best regards to all, and best wishes for much future health and happiness,

Hub

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