Sadden News about Jerry Smyth Team THRUST 1501 Mentor

[Chris_Elston]

I am sadden today to have to inform you that Jerry Smyth passed away last night about 9PM. Jerry was the whole reason our team is what it is today. He taught the students much about monocoque construction. Our first robot was named "Sidewinder II" after Jerry's airplane a moment I will never forget when we put the decals on the robot as I watched a tear run from Jerry's face in shear joy of what the students had built.

Jerry's leadership and outside the box thinking by incorporating what he knew as a Naval Aviator into something that was easy for the students to learn, left a trademark world wide about our team image. Truly a legacy to leave behind not only for the students, but Huntington, Indiana as well.

Know that from this day forward when our drive team gives that salute, that we salute Jerry for his dedicatation to his country and those students locally that meant so much to him.

Here is a link to Jerry's online obituary.
http://www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com/obituaries.php

Online condolences can be made.

The original prayer thread can be found here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=57430
(new thread started to honor Jerry and his Family)

[Kyle]

I am very sorry to hear of his passing, My thoughts will go to his family and friends.

[Nuttyman54]

My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and to team 1501

[Billfred]

Losing any mentor is hard--losing one that's formed such a key element to a team must be tremendous. May he rest in peace.

[JoeXIII'007]

My greatest sympathies go out to Team THRUST and Jerry's family... may the Lord be with you all

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I am saddened to hear this. I had been praying for him and will still continue to do so. My condolences are with his family, Team THRUST, and Huntington, Indiana.

[JohnBoucher]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all that knew and loved him.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Please pass along our thoughts and prayers to his family and his team.

[roboticsguy1988]

Jerry was truly a great mentor... he loved to teach and loved to see a student go from their first year to their last where they are the ones that help teach the other students. He is a mentor that i will never forget, and someone that i will always be proud to of had as a mentor. It's hard and sad to think that the guy who taught all of us about monocoque design and construction will not be there to teach the new people on the team. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.

[Mr MOE]

Prayers go out to Jerry's family and Team THRUST 1501.

We are all here for a short time. It's our contribution over that time, which is important. I never met Jerry, but thank him for the positive effect he has had on so many people.

[Mark Pierce]

I and all of Team 85 send condolences and prayers to your team and Jerry's family.

[IndySam]

Deepest sympathy for Jerry’s family and Team THRUST from Team 829.

It’s always a privilege to be able to be mentored by a great man like that, we should all be thankful to have a chance to have met him. I am jealous of those of you who got to work directly with him.

Celebrate his life and try your best to be the same kind of positive influence that Jerry was.

[cooker52]

Thank you all very much. I truly cannot see where my life would have gone if it weren't for Jerry. One of the last things that I plan on doing for Jerry now is to spread what he has taught us all. I've only known him for a short period of time, but he has done more in my life already, without me even knowing him, than what I will truly be able to ever understand.
God bless Jerry for all he has done for us.

Seth

[MishraArtificer]

Originally Posted by Les Miserables

There's a grief that can't be spoken, there's a pain goes on and on. Empty chairs at empty tables…now my friends are dead and gone
Here they talked of revolution, here it was they lit the flame, here they sang about tomorrow, but tomorrow never came.
From the table in the corner, they could see a world reborn, and they rose with voices ringing, and I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung became their last Communion on the lowly barricade…at dawn…
Oh my friends, my friends forgive me, that I live and you are gone. There's a grief that can't be spoken…there's a pain goes on and on.
Phantom faces at the window, phantom shadows on the floor, empty chairs at empty tables, where my friends will meet no more.
Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me what your sacrifice was for! Empty chairs at empty tables, where my friends will sing no more...

Be at peace, Mr. Smyth, for there are on this earth people who would have followed you to the ends of the world. The ghosts of the barricade honor you.

P.S.: I apologize if these messages for the ones who have passed away seem melodramatic. The quote is from the musical Les Miserables, and it pretty much says all that can be said better than anything I can come up with. Please accept my sympathy for the losses of two (from what I've heard: I had never met them when they yet lived) truly great men, Mr. Mike Wade and Mr. Jerry Smyth.

[Amanda Morrison]

Jerry and Team 1501 have been a friendly presence and guiding hand at many IndianaFIRST events and to many IndianaFIRST teams. To hear of this loss is, at the very least, upsetting.

Best wishes to Jerry's family and the whole 1501 team at this difficult time.