It's not fitting that he not be accompanied by music performed by a talented young student from Puerto Rico during our shared time:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w67-hlaUSIs  This is the original.   

I entered grad school at the SOM under Bob Smith in January 1984 and certainly saw him daily for years and occasionally thereafter. I can't think of a warmer, more engaging, supporting, driving teacher, friend, and advisor than Robert Smith. His children were in orchestra at the time. His love for the music and culture of Latin America and particularly Puerto Rico, Salsa and folk music traditions knew no boundaries and the Latin students in the SOM loved him. We all loved him. He brought Salsa and the Center for Music of the Americas to the SOM and hopefully Salsa is still there but I'm sure its not the same without his presence. He brought young and inspired talent from Puerto Rico. If I am at all like many others he touched, then he never left many hearts and I had long wished to see him again. He was on the verge of big things at the SOM and I"m sure took the same passion to his later work in international education, for which he was a great example. He was a great inspiring man and his loss from the SOM was an egregious mistake. 

Bob Smith opened up the magical worlds of music and theatre to me.  I hope he would have been proud of the years I spent in musical theatre.  He was my mentor and inspiration.  I have not heard from him for many years, but he has always been and will remain in my head and heart.

While (to my regret) we did not communicate much past my dissertation days at FSU, you have often been in my thoughts. Your encouragement gave me the impetus for my Music of the Americas recitals, and your compliment on my writing ability found practice as a weekend journalist and in my ongoing academic career. You brought music history to life and proved the power of review sheets! Jim and I still call sticky notes "Smith notes" because you used them so often. And of course, your Guayabera shirts were legendary. May you rest in peace.

Dr. Smith (Bob Smith as we always thought of him) was probably our most cherished professor at Florida State in the early 1980s.  He was an excellent teacher in the music history classes my wife and I had, probably the best I've had on the subject, actually.  He also coordinated lots of the Latin America events that my wife was involved in.  He had a great sense of humor, always smiling and laughing, but also was extremely bright.  Several of us also saw him as a friend who would always be there for you.  I just found out about his death today and am terribly sad.  God bless him.

Got to know Doc Smith and his wife during FSU summer abroad in Spain in 99.  Great memories of a great man. He was a true leader who provided advice, wisdom and guidance to any student who needed it. Haven't seen him in 15 years but he will be missed.  Raising a glass to you tonight! RIP

Rest in peace my dear friend and mentor.  Will always remember the great music and teachings.

OBITUARY

Robert L Smith

April 10, 1935 – July 23, 2017

Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home

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