Gary Gordon Smith

Gary Gordon Smith died on July 29, 2019, of complications from leukemia at the age of 59, in Washington, DC. He was born on July 22, 1960, in Geneva, Switzerland, where his father, Robert S. Smith, was acting secretary general for the World Federation of the UN, and his mother, Sally L. Smith, who had done research for the World Health Organization, served as a representative of the International Conference of Social Work. Gary bravely fought and overcame medical issues all his life with an indefatigable spirit, a wry sense of humor, and an infectious laugh. He loved kids, his cats JB and Sprite, and musicals, most especially Oliver!

In 1961 the Smiths moved to Washington, where Robert Smith joined the State Department. When Gary entered elementary school, he was found to suffer from severe dyslexia. At the same time, Sally Smith saw that Gary’s mind was sharp and inventive. She developed innovative ways to inspire his learning, including themed birthday parties in which children played roles of characters out of history.

Finding no school available to meet Gary’s needs, Sally founded the Lab School of Washington in 1967 with her pioneering Academic Club Methodology as its teaching framework. A prolific author, she went on to teach and direct the master’s program in special education at American University for 32 years.

Gary often described the first day of the Lab School as the happiest day of his life, a sentiment echoed by thousands of children with learning differences who have attended the Lab Schools of Washington and Baltimore.

Once he learned to read, Gary became a lover of reading and writing, crafting stories based on his own experiences, containing lessons for life relevant to children and adults of all abilities, and often stressing open-mindedness, resilience, and hope. He loved working with the children at John Eaton School and the Macomb Street playground, teaching computer skills to grade schoolers at the University of the District of Columbia, and working part time at AU in his later years.

He leaves two brothers, Nicholas of Darnestown, Maryland, and Randall of New Orleans, Louisiana, and one niece, Maggie Smith, also of New Orleans, as well as numerous cousins and loved ones. The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of Georgetown/Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, who provided Gary with many years of kind and effective treatment of his leukemia.

Funeral arrangements are private, but a public memorial service will take place in the fall.