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| The late Dr. Smith conducting a
tour of Maya ruins
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This week San Pedro mourns the
passing of Dr. Herman A. Smith, Ph.D. Born July 5, 1938, Herman left this
world last Friday, March
10th at the young age
of 61. This past Monday, seven boats holding approximately 70 of his
friends and loved ones set sail for a memorial service held at North
Ambergris Caye. The site was one of Herman's favorite spots and was
beautifully decorated with palm fronds and red hibiscus by Bob and Diane
Campbell. A modified military service conducted by Jim Diehl, was
complete with honor guards and a shot gun salute courtesy of Chris
Berlin. In Herman's honor, Mr. Jerry McDermott read a poem by Pilot John
G. McGee, Jr.
For those of you unfamiliar
with the "Old
Curmudgeon" as he called himself in the recent past, Dr. Herman Smith was
very involved in the archaeology of this country. As early as 1983 he
found himself lecturing on Belize and was one of the principal
investigators on the San Juan (1986), Ek Luum and Chac Balaam (1987)
Archaeological Projects. In 1989 he was the Project Director in the
Search for the Lost British Fleet of 1787 at St. George's Caye. He was
the Director of the Lamanai South Archaeological Project in Orange Walk
during 1995/96 and a Principal Advisor of the Ambergris Caye Historical
Museum which houses many of his "finds". His lectures on the Maya
civilization entertained many at countless community, countrywide and
international functions. He was published numerous times in various
archaeological and Belize magazines, most recently in a book he compiled
from his "Dig It" stories, titled "Archaeology Without Tears". This book
was based on the ancient Maya and the many interesting discoveries he
made while digging in Belize and beyond. (These stories may be accessed
at
www.ambergriscaye.com/museum/digit.html)
He was proud to have served his country (the United
States) as a Marine Captain/Pilot, primarily flying search and rescue
missions during the Viet Nam conflict of 1966-69. He was awarded the
Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, earned seventeen Air
Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
He became a Belizean citizen just last year, having
lived here twelve years. He was a wonderful husband to wife Pam, a loving
father to daughters Fern Smith and Sara Smith Donahue and proud
grandfather to Sara's son, Jake. He was a business partner in Sunrise
Realty with his wife, Jesse Cope, and Amanda Syme, as well as Karl and
Ellen Koster, with whom he was also a former partner in the boat
Ooh La La. He was a friend to more
people than can be mentioned in one newspaper and he left us all too
soon. Rest assured he will live on in our hearts and our fondest memories
forever or until we can join him for that "Big Dig in the Sky"!
High Flight
by Pilot John G. McGee, Jr.
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
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