Robert Pleas Smith Jr.

Robert Pleas Smith, Jr., known to all as Bob, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 19, 2024, after a courageous battle with a rare form of cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Pleas Smith and Joanne Farrar Smith as well as his brother H. Thomas Smith. Those who survived Bob will miss him dearly. Among others, this list includes his wife of 56 years, Terri Plante Smith; sisters, Rosemary Willits and Ann Hladilek; brother-in-law, Kenneth J. Plante (Kelly); daughter, Natalie Smith Rosenberg (Mark); daughter, Melanie Smith Probel (Kevin); three grandchildren; Charlotte Rosenberg, William Rosenberg, and Tanner Probel; nephews David Plante (Anna), Jerry Willits (Holly), and Gregory Hladilek (Mary); and nieces Maya Plante, Julie Klein (Paul), and Stephanie Foster (Geoff).

Bob was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee on February 16, 1945. For the first years of his life, he lived on a farm in Tennessee, and at the age of two, his family relocated to Miami, Florida. It was in Miami that his love for the water began and where he made lifelong friends, most of whom were also named Bob. Bob graduated from Miami Edison High School in 1964. A very serious bike accident caused him to graduate a year late and prevented him from playing some high school sports. Bob, however, did not dwell on the accident and he was an honor student who enjoyed playing basketball and presiding over clubs such as the math club. He was a Boy’s State representative and was described by classmates as both a “barrel of fun” and a “terrible lab partner.” In his free time, he loved boating, fishing, snorkeling, frog gigging, lobstering, and waterskiing with his friends near his home in Miami.

He graduated from Florida State University in 1968 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and remained in Tallahassee for the rest of his life. In 1968, he also married his college sweetheart, Terri, and with her by his side, he ultimately went on to get his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration. Bob worked in Gadsden County for 36 years as a math teacher; a principal; and finally, a district administrator. Upon his retirement from Gadsden County, he became a professor of Educational Leadership at Valdosta State University for the next eight years.

When his girls were young, Bob loved shooting hoops with them in the driveway, teaching them to fish, and taking them to the beach at St. George Island and Cape San Blas. He also loved cheering on the Seminoles with his family and friends. Despite his devotion to the Seminoles, not surprisingly, he was very supportive and excited when both daughters chose to attend the University of Florida.

In his free time, Bob enjoyed fishing, golfing, and birdwatching. He was thrilled when even after his diagnosis, he was able to take a dream trip to the Galapagos to see many rare birds and sea animals in their natural and unspoiled habitat. Bob loved to travel with Terri and they are fortunate to have traveled to many lovely places abroad but also places closer to home like Cashiers where they enjoyed spending time with long-time friends. On trips to Jupiter, he enjoyed playing golf with Kevin and Melanie while Terri drove the cart. He also adored cheering on his grandkids and traveled countless times between Tallahassee and Jacksonville to watch dance recitals, baseball games, basketball games, and tennis matches in addition to attending lots of birthday parties and holding down the fort once a year to allow his daughter and her husband to travel. Even though it was very difficult for him physically, Bob insisted on attending his grandson’s recent high school graduation to celebrate that momentous occasion with his family and all of the Jacksonville friends that he had come to know and love over the years.

Bob also supported his community in his free time. He mentored first-year FSU College of Medicine students and was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Church where he served as an usher. Bob was a Kiwanis Club member and served for years on the supervisory committee for Envision Credit Union.

Though Bob placed no importance on material things, he did love a good gadget. His recent favorite was probably his Tesla. He loved the environmental benefits and he enjoyed learning about all of the car’s features and passing those facts on to family and friends. Recently, he got quite a kick out of operating the Tesla on auto drive (without telling Terri) during a drive to Lake City to meet his family for a Father’s Day lunch.

Without a doubt, Bob will be remembered for his incredible spirit of generosity to his family, his friends, and his church. He was an extraordinary husband, brother, father, grandfather, and mentor who was a model of kindness, ethical behavior, and healthy living. Many would agree that Bob never hesitated to lend a helping hand when needed. In fact, he would insist.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Big Bend Hospice for their care and compassion as well as Doctors Russell and Sharp from the TMH Cancer Center. A service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, 624 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Blessed Sacrament Church, Big Bend Hospice or Second Harvest of the Big Bend. The information for memorials can be found below.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 653 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Big Bend Hospice at 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32308

Second Harvest of the Big Bend at 4446 Entrepot Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32310