Reginald Brian Furness Smith, M.D.

Our beloved father, husband, and grandfather, Reginald Brian Furness Smith, M.D. passed away on December 22, 2014, at the age of 83. His wife Margarete cared for him with love, dedication, and fortitude.

He was born on February 7, 1931 in Warrington, England to Reginald and Betty Smith. He graduated from St. Mary's College of Medicine in London, England and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in 1956. After medical school, he served as a captain in the British Royal Army Medical Corps in Nigeria, West Africa.

He met his bride of 51 years, Margarete Groppe Smith in London, England and they married in Bonn, Germany in 1963. After their marriage, they moved to the United States where Brian completed his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh from 1964 to 1978 and acting department chairman of anesthesiology.

In 1978, Brian and his family moved to San Antonio, Texas where he served as the chairman of the anesthesia department from 1978-1998.

Throughout his career, Brian was a prolific writer, educator, scholar and speaker in the field of anesthesiology. He wrote and edited multiple professional publications and textbooks. At the time of his retirement, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio established the R. Brian Smith, M.D., Permanent Endowed Professorship in Anesthesiology. He was a member of the American College of Physicians, Anesthesia College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, International Anesthesia Research Society, Royal College of Surgeons, and American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Brian enjoyed traveling and hosting international visitors. He was a consummate athlete playing rugby in college and also loved squash, tennis, skiing, swimming, running and golf.

He enjoyed boating and the family spent many summers on Canyon Lake and Lake McQueeney, Texas. Margarete and Brian frequently traveled to golf with good friends in their adopted home of Rancho Bernardo, California. One of the greatest joys in his life was his grandson Ian with whom he shared a special bond. He enjoyed telling stories about his youth in England during World War II where he hid shells under his bed, pulled pranks on his classmates in boarding school and spent time at his grandfather's estate at Marbury Hall in Cheshire England.

His wife Margarete, daughter Corinne, son Malcolm Smith and his partner Mark Nuszkowski, grandson Ian, sister Kathleen Morton, brother Ronald Smith and their families survive him. He was preceded in death by his parents Reginald and Betty Smith, brother George Smith, father-in-law Hubert Groppe and mother-in-law Meta Groppe.

The family wishes to thank his long-time caregivers Maria, Patricia, Jeremy and Ingrid as well as the staff from Hospice of San Antonio.

A private service was held for the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association to support research, treatment and prevention ~ Alzheimer's Association, 7400 Louis Pasteur, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78229.