The setting was perfect. A whiteout crowd of more than 107,000 was in a frenzy as the Nittany Lions trailed No. 2 Ohio State just 21-17 with 4:27 remaining when Marcus Allen soared high in the air and blocked a Buckeye field goal attempt.
The ball bounced right into the hands of Grant Haley who began racing toward the end zone some 60 yards away. Haley looked like he was going to be caught from behind when he suddenly leaned hard to his right, seemingly being pulled into the end zone. A few minutes later pandemonium ensued as the fans swarmed the field to celebrate Penn State’s biggest upset victory in years.
There are people who say Haley got some ‘help from above’ given the fortuitous bounce and the late lean into the end zone. Well, the Battista and Smith families agree, and we believe in our hearts it must have been the handiwork of Grandpa Smitty.
On Oct. 19, my father-in-law, Francis “Smitty” Smith, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 96. No matter how hard I will try, this column will not do justice to the honorable gentleman that we knew as Smitty.
Smitty was more than a father to my wife Heidi, his youngest of three daughters. He was her best friend. He was more than a grandfather to our kids. He was their constant companion, a faithful fan at their sporting events, and was there for every banquet, graduation, and award ceremony from daycare through high school and college. He was far more than a F-I-L to me. He was my buddy, my Penn State sports partner, and a great mentor. For his three daughters, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and all of his extended family and his many friends, he was a true role model.
May we all aspire to: “Live Like Smitty!”
Francis was a member of the “Greatest Generation” who served his country with honor during World War II in the Philippines. After a 35-year career as an engineer with General Electric, he and his wife retired to Happy Valley. Those who had gotten to know this humble, caring and giving soul were all positively impacted by the way he lived his life and the way he treated others. He was everyone’s friend, and in the 22 years that he lived in State College, he became recognizable around town as an avid Penn State fan and supporter of the university.
He was the official “Call to Order” bell ringer for the State College Tailback Club that meets every Wednesday for breakfast outside of the football season to hear speakers from Penn State Athletics. He was a member of the Accountable Disciples at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, The Free and Accepted Masons Erie Lodge and the State College American Legion.
But there is a lot more to his story of persistence, perseverance and faith.
He was the youngest of five children and just a year old when his father passed away unexpectedly in Tidioute, a small northwestern Pennsylvania town along the Allegheny River. He lived his formative years during the Great Depression and attended Tidioute High School where he played baseball and basketball, sang in the choir and performed in school plays.
In 1938 he entered Penn State DuBois as a freshman to study industrial engineering. While there he met his future wife, Nellie Kline, whom he would marry in 1946 (a marriage that would span 61 years). Unfortunately, his family ran out of money after one year and Smitty had to put college on hold. He was encouraged to learn a trade so he applied and was accepted in the Machinist Apprentice Program at General Electric in Erie, Pa.
When his country came calling, off he went to the Pacific theater, where on the small island of Cebu, he actually ran into his older brother Dick. By the way, Smitty could still fit into his Army uniform well into his 90s and he donned it with pride annually for the Veteran’s Day lunch at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. When the war ended, Smitty and Nellie (who had already graduated from PSU) moved to State College so Francis could finish his industrial engineering degree, 11 years after he first started.
Smitty returned to Erie and spent 35 years working for General Electric and helping to raise three daughters (no wonder he was so patient and humble!). The Smiths retired to Happy Valley to enjoy their Penn State roots and to be close to family.
My wife has been devoted to her father. She always thought about how to include her dad in activities and Smitty was always welcome by our friends to tailgates, parties and events. It was that love that helped keep him going, especially after Nellie passed away in 2007.
My kids got to spend great years with Grandpa and will remember him most going to PSU sporting events, coming over for dinner, celebrating birthdays and graduations, and our special times at the Smith camp “Backachers” in Tidioute.
I never knew either one of my grandfathers, as my mom’s father passed away before I was born and my dad’s father died when I was just four. So it has been a blessing that my own children have been able to be so close to theirs.
At his memorial service, “daughter No. 2,” Terri, gave an elegant accounting of Smitty’s life. “Dad had a strong faith, a love of family, and a passion for anything PSU. His love for mom was a standard we should all aspire to. His constant desire to learn and stay engaged…and ohhhhh how he loved to read. If you want to honor Smitty, go read the book UNBROKEN.”
She was followed by granddaughter Brianna who talked about The 9 F’s of Francis “Smitty” Smith:
Football: “He loved Penn State Football. He rarely got mad except when the referees made a bad call against us!”
Food: “He really loved cookies, so it is only appropriate that his ashes will be kept in a Penn State cookie jar!”
Feet: “He was an expert in foot reflexology and loved to rub people’s feet.”
Facts: “At Christmas everyone would give him books. There would be a stack in front of him. By the next Christmas he not only read them all, he gave them to other people to read.”
Freedom: “He loved our country. He was a patriot.”
Faith: “He met with the Accountable Disciples for breakfast every Friday and was a faithful Christian.”
Friends: “He had so many friends, especially Don Miller, Jim Rhodes, Doug and Denise Kelly, and Tidioute native Carl Pillar and wife Bonnie.”
Family: “He loved being with family, especially the grandkids at Backachers.”
Flowers: “He grew roses and gave them to the ‘girls in his life.’ So I want to give a rose to the pretty ladies in my family to remind us all that no matter what, Grandpa is always with us. Hopefully every time anyone is in this room and sees a rose they will think of my grandpa and remember to live like Smitty.”
Our family is indebted to Vince Romanini and the wonderful personal care staff at Wynwood House in Boalsburg and to Shannon, Heather, Arlene, Jessica, Mary and the other “angels” from Grane Hospice. Thanks to all the Meals on Wheels folks and Dr. Bob Mooney and his staff. A special thanks to Bernadette Snyder (Certified Nursing Assistant) who provides specialized care for the elderly and spent most of Smitty’s final year helping to make his life more comfortable. She is an amazing person and in a short time became part of the family.
On the day of the PSU vs. OSU football game, grandson Travis Brown dressed as Smitty for the game. He wore Grandpa’s khaki’s with the Nittany Lion logos, his blue Penn State coat and hat, and his glasses. He even wore Smitty’s over-sized headphones (so he could listen to Steve Jones and Jack Ham on the Penn State Radio Network). Smitty was a regular at the Stine tailgate and just before game time, David Stine gathered friends and family for a toast to Smitty and we asked for his help in upsetting the Buckeyes. Prayer answered.
We lost a great friend, a role model, and a man who lived his life in support of others. Smitty was patient, positive, handy, and “first to forgive.” He was welcoming to all and had a great sense of humor.
So while he may be gone, every day we will remember how blessed we were to have had Grandpa in our lives and will aspire to “Live Like Smitty”.
