R John Smith

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we have had to reschedule John’s memorial mass.

The new date and time will be Thursday, April 9th at 2:00 PM, still at St. Andrew’s Parish in Vancouver.

We are truly grateful to those who are able to attend, and we completely understand if you are unable to join us.

Refreshments will be served in the church basement following the mass, where we will gather to share stories and memories of John. We warmly welcome anyone who would like to say a few words.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of R John Smith on Thursday, March 12, 2026. John was known to many for his great smile, love of jokes, and easy manner. Those fortunate enough to love him knew he was also generous, loving, and deeply kind.

Born in the Comox area, John moved to Vancouver at 19 to attend electronics school. It was there that he met the love of his life, Louise. They were best friends for more than 62 years. Their marriage was one for the books, and they truly enjoyed being together above anywhere else. Wherever Louise was, John was sure to be close behind.

John’s three daughters—Colleen (Kevin), Karan (Jim), and Alison (Dan)—along with his grandchildren Josie, Grady, Emma, and Caleb, were great joys in his life. He was proud of them all and loved telling everyone he met that his daughter Karan worked at ICBC (she did) and set the insurance rates (she didn’t). Many of his grandchildren’s teammates will also tell you that he was the best cheerleader in the stands—always loud and always positive. He loved watching them play sports or perform in plays.

John worked for IBM for 30 years and retired in his early 50s, often joking that he had been retired longer than he had worked. He attended many of their First Friday luncheons and had wonderful times with his work friends.

He was a lifelong lover of all things technical. John was a ham radio operator and an early adopter of computers, digital cameras, cell phones, and all kinds of tech gadgets. His daughters remember many hours spent around the living room table going over lines of code to program his VIC-20 or Commodore 64. He was also a wonderful writer and, for many years, published the Seagull Gazette for the Richmond Yacht Club. A comedian at heart, his sense of humor shone through in his hilarious stories and articles.

From humble beginnings, through hard work and sacrifice, John and Louise built a beautiful life that allowed them the luxury of travel and adventure. In the 1970s, they purchased a boat and became members of the Richmond Yacht Club. Lifelong friendships were formed over summers spent exploring the coast of British Columbia. John and Louise also loved to travel, visiting six of the seven continents and sharing many adventures along the way. In later years, they began wintering in Mexico with Louise’s brothers and sisters, creating many more cherished memories.

We liked to call John a modern-day hobo. He would often get up early and ride the buses just to see where he might end up that day. He also loved riding the BC Ferries on free seniors’ days. On one memorable outing, he took the Tsawwassen ferry to Duke Point, walked to Departure Bay along the highway, and then caught the ferry from Horseshoe Bay back home. Needless to say, it was quite the journey—and Louise was not thrilled.

He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. John had a large circle of long-time friends, including his childhood best friend, Dick Williams. Their friendship spanned nearly 80 years, numerous time zones, and several countries, yet it never faltered.

Most of all, he will be missed by the family he loved so very much.

Hi Ho Silver, Away…

A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, at St. Andrew’s Church, with a reception to follow.

480 East 47th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Smile Canada, a cause that was special to John.