YOUR AD HERE »

Sidney Newberry Smock

The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

Sidney Newberry Smock passed away peacefully at his home in Basalt, Colo. on May 5, 2012. Sid was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., to Nuel and Martha Smock, on Aug. 20, 1932.

His passion for the outdoors led Sidto earn a degree in Forestry at the University of Michigan. After two years in forestry research, he enrolled in the U. of M. Medical School, joking that he wanted to become a tree surgeon. The day Sid graduated from medical school, June 11, 1960, he married the love of his life, Ann Elizabeth Wilson. After a residency in anesthesiology, Sid practiced in Midland, Mich., and became one of the first advocates for the cessation of smoking by starting smoking-withdrawal clinics and touring schools urging students not to smoke. This was at a time when research data had yet to prove the health risks of smoking.

In 1974, Sid returned to the University of Michigan Medical Center as director of emergency services. While there, he was a pioneer in the establishment of the ER residency program nationally. However, Sid believed his greatest contribution to emergency medicine was his tireless advocacy for the use of portable defibrillating equipment. This eventually led to the creation of AED devices, now found on every emergency vehicle – in airports, schools and other public places.



Sid returned to anesthesiology in 1977, when he relocated to Scottsdale, Ariz. He was instrumental in the development of free-standing outpatient surgical centers. Additionally, Sid was a leader in the development of new anesthesia techniques for eye surgery. He loved medicine, stating that it was a privilege and a joy to go to work. As an anesthesiologist, his competence, great sense of humor and gift of gab made surgery a pleasant experience for both the medical team and patients.

Despite Sid’s distinguished medical career, his family was his first passion. Sid and Ann raised two daughters and were surrogate parents to many young people, especially to several young men in the Big Brothers of America program who remain part of Sid and Ann’s extended family.




When Sid retired in 2003, he and Ann permanently moved to Basalt, where they had kept a second home since 1982. Sid served on the Pitkin County Planning and

Zoning Commission and taught human anatomy at Colorado Mountain College. Sid lived a full life; he said that he had done everything he had wanted to do except join a traveling circus. He leaves a legacy of family, friends and patients who were touched by the compassion, intelligence and humor of “the Doc.”

Sid is survived by his family, which includes: wife Ann; daughter Katherine and Austin Garrison, and Barbara, Christine and Jim; daughter Sarah and Scottie Rienecker, and Sebastian and Sydney; Little Brother KC and Jan Grenier, and Ryan and Krista; and Little Brother Kevin and Lisa Grenier, and Taylor, Emily, Levi, Daniel, Samuel and Anna. Sid is also survived by his twin sister Sally and Herb Swanson; brother Nuel and Laura Smock; brother-in-law Bill Wilson and Rafael Manchon; and loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the Smock family suggests memorial contributions to Snowmass Chapel, P.O. Box 17169, Snowmass Village, CO 81615; Home Care and Hospice of the Valley, P.O. Box 3768, Basalt, CO 81621; or Valley View Hospital Cancer Center, P.O. Box 2270, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602-2270.

A memorial service for Sid will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, 2012 in the Snowmass Chapel, 5307 Owl Creek Road, Snowmass Village, Colo.

News


See more