Dr. Freeman Minson Smith

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, Emeritus Professor of Watershed Science in Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources, passed away from complications of Parkinson’s disease and leukemia at 75 years of age on Oct. 3, 2014 in San Mateo, Calif. Minson left a lasting impression among family, colleagues, students, and friends and will be remembered and missed by many.

Minson was born on Jan. 9, 1939, to Harold “Jeff” and Margaret Smith in Superior, Ariz., who predeceased him. He attended all years of school in Superior, graduating from Superior High School in 1957. After winning the Magma Scholarship, he received his bachelors and masters degrees at the University of Arizona and PhD from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

Minson was a dedicated husband, father, friend, teacher and mentor who was kind, generous, patient, thoughtful, and dedicated. He was a congenial man of unwavering integrity, highly respected by his family, friends, students and faculty and recognized and appreciated as a mentor for new faculty. His family considered him the “Rock” of the family.

He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Emily Meyer Smith, originally of Florence, Ariz., and his sons, Lincoln Smith of Wyoming, and Walter Smith of San Mateo, Calif. Additionally he is survived by his sisters, Marnee Smith Sell of Tucson, Ariz., and Jacque Smith Burdette of Gig Harbor, Wash.

Minson and Emily moved to San Mateo, Calif., in 2012, where he resided with his son, Walter, and daughter-in-law, Zari, who took care of him when his Parkinson’s disease took over.

Minson joined the watershed faculty at Colorado State University in 1971 and retired from Colorado State University in 2005. He taught courses in Ecosystem and Watershed Modeling and represented Watershed Science in the college-wide Natural Resources Management courses for seniors. He also worked closely with the NSF-sponsored IBP Grassland Ecosystem Program.

Minson enjoyed working with international graduate students and roughly 70 percent of his 55 M.S. and 26 Ph.D. students were from countries other than the US. He organized and led the College International Forestry School, one of several international schools on campus during the 1980s and 1990s. In the late 1980s, CSU was asked to participate in the Peace Corps Master’s Program in Agriculture and in Forestry and Natural Resources. Dr. Smith was selected to coordinate the program in Forestry and Natural Resources – a program that allowed Peace Corps volunteers to earn M.S. credit toward their master’s degrees.

In addition to his mentorship of graduate students, Minson also enjoyed interacting with undergraduates. He pursued this interest by teaching Principles of Watershed Management and by serving as a member of the teaching team for the summer field course at CSU’s Mountain Campus at Pingree Park (NR220) for many years.

He was highly respected by students and faculty and recognized and appreciated as a mentor for new faculty. Minson has been described as the “glue” behind key activities and a critical support person. He often stepped up to do things that others did not want to do, or did not have the time for. It goes without saying that Minson Smith will be missed by so many.

His ashes will be spread near Superior, Ariz., his birthplace and a place he loved.

Please direct inquiries to Jacque Smith Burdette at tequilajac@gmail.com or 1-253-857-0556.

Staff (5796 Posts)

There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.


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