We are sad to report that Jan Stuart Smith, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Anthropology, passed away on March 30, 2026. He was 82.
Dr. Smith served on the Ohio Wesleyan faculty from 1977 to 2009, when he was presented with the Adam Poe Medal and recognized as an inspiring educator whose students “were drawn to him not only by his deep knowledge of diverse subjects and theoretical insights, but also by his intellectual openness and willingness to engage in long discussions in his Elliott Hall office.”
In his obituary, Jan’s family shared: “Jan spent his life enriching the minds of others and constantly sought to broaden his own understanding of the world. As a dedicated professor, Jan was always eager to learn and share his knowledge with others. His curiosity was insatiable, and his love for learning was infectious. … Jan is also remembered by all for his wonderful sense of humor, warmth, and empathy. He could always break any tension with a well-intentioned joke.”
Jan earned his undergraduate degree from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, where he met his future wife, Andrea. In his senior year, Jan earned a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and headed off to Princeton University, where he earned his doctorate in Sociology.
A celebration of Jan’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 3, at the Congregation Beth Tikvah, 121 Olentangy River Road, Worthington.
Please join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Andrea Smith, Jan’s wife of nearly 60 years; their daughters, Jessica Brown and Rachel Chermside; and everyone who knew and loved Jan.
Source: The Offices of Academic Affairs and Human Resources