Gregory Ronald Smith

Gregory Ronald Smith of Jacksonville, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2023., surrounded by his loving wife of 36 years, Julie, and children Brian, Whitney, and Philip, and Whitney’s husband, Wasim.

Born in Akron, Ohio on July 9, 1950 to Ronald Winthrop and Eileen Cummins Smith, he moved to Jacksonville in 1961 and graduated from Terry Parker High School in 1968. His first year of college was spent at Florida State University. Greg loved to tell the story that after that year, his dad decided that he needed to be “studying more and partying less,” so he returned home to Jacksonville where he graduated from Jacksonville University in 1972 with a degree in Marketing. At JU, he was a member of the Florida Zeta chapter of Phi Delta Theta, culminating in his service as chapter President.

While in college, he began working for IBM, with his first role selling Selectric II typewriters. His college job grew into a lengthy and meaningful career; he continued at IBM for another 32 years, retiring in 2004 after making a lifetime of memories with his fellow IBMers.

Greg’s vocational pride was not found in titles or awards, though those were impressive; rather it was in the teammates he surrounded himself with, and the way he cared for them. He treasured his role as a leader, friend, and mentor to so many - at IBM and beyond.

Early in his career, one of his primary accounts was the University of Florida, and while he had a lifelong love for the Gators, he was later ingrafted to Seminole nation when his son Philip enrolled at FSU in 2007. After that, his college football loyalties would be forever divided between Orange and Blue and Garnet and Gold.

In his free time, you might find him playing golf at Hidden Hills County Club, his home course for so many years. His handicap hovered around 11, but he was frequently a secret weapon on scramble teams for his consistently excellent short game. Otherwise, you could find him fishing with friends or doing anything to spend time with his family, often involving cooking. He loved being with his family - and his friends who were his family. He was most in his element when he was preparing a big meal for a holiday gathering, manning the grill for a Sunday afternoon barbecue, or just swimming in the pool with his family.

Greg is survived by his wife, Julie; children, Brian Smith (Rachel), Whitney Munayyer (Wasim), and Philip Smith (Savannah); five beautiful grandchildren, Spencer, Oliver, Eleanor, Hudson, and Brady; brother, Jeff Smith (Nancy); and sister, Sherry Hieb (Greg); mother-in-law, Joyce Johnston; and nieces and nephews. He loved them all dearly.

Greg’s celebration of life will be on Monday, October 9, 2023 at 2:30 pm, at Hardage-Giddens Chapel at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Note: Greg was notorious for finding button down shirts (and especially sport coats) uncomfortable, so the family welcomes you to wear your favorite golf/polo shirt and otherwise casual attire!

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, The Longest Day Fundraiser, http://act.alz.org/goto/ForGRS