Patrick Smith Celebration of Life Set For Feb. 16
By Space Coast Daily // January 28, 2014
at Eastern Florida State College
ABOVE VIDEO: An interview with Patrick Smith, author of “A Land Remembered.” He discusses how the book came to be, his time spent researching, and the response from children and teachers in grade schools around the state. (Originally taped July 10, 2003)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The public is invited to attend a Celebration of Life for Florida author Patrick D. Smith, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Bernard Simpkins Fine Arts Center on the Cocoa campus of Eastern Florida State College.
Smith was born in D’Lo Mississippi on October 8, 1927. He passed away on January 26, 2014.
Patrick Smith is well known for his novel of Florida pioneers, A Land Remembered. This novel is beloved by readers of all ages and backgrounds.
He also wrote The River is Home, The Beginning, Forever Island, Allapattah, Angel City, The Last Ride and In Search of The Russian Bear. A White Deer and Other Stories is a collection of his short stories.
He moved with his family to Merritt Island, Florida in 1966. He served as public relations director for Brevard Comunity College for 22 years. In retirement he lectured extensively throughout Florida.
GREAT FLORIDIAN AWARD
In 1980 his novel Angel City was produced as a “Movie of the Week” for CBS. It told of the miseries migrant workers often suffered at the hands of unscrupulous crew chiefs and led to over a dozen laws that helped protect workers from such abuse.
Patrick was honored with numerous awards and honors during his lifetime. In June, 2013, Governor Rick Scott bestowed the Great Floridian award to him in person, at his Merritt Island home.
The Brevard Library Foundation has created the ‘Patrick D. Smith Literary Medal’ for excellence in writing by a Brevard County author. The award will include between $1,500 and $2,500 in prize money, as well as a lovely reception in their honor.
DONATIONS TO BREVARD LIBRAY FOUNDATION
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that you make donations to the Brevard Library Foundation, 219 Indian River Drive, Cocoa, FL 32922.
Patrick is survived by his wife, Iris of Merritt Island; his daughter Jane of Merritt Island; son Rick (Patrick, Jr.) (Kim) of Cambria, California; Grandchildren Danny Schneider of Merritt Island, Kimber Williams of Colorado Springs, CO., Matthew Smith of Los Angeles, California, Josh Schneider of Merritt Island and Alex (Patrick) Fortune of Merritt Island. Great grandchildren Jordan Schneider and Zach Schneider of California, Makayla and Nathan Williams of Colorado Springs, CO., Jermey Schneider of Orlando, FL., and Kaiden Vetsch of Cocoa, Florida along with several nieces and nephew. Patrick was the son of the late John D. and Nora Jane Smith of Mendenhall, Mississippi.
