Albert E. Smith Jr. ’66

Al died Feb. 20, 2015, at his home in Charlottesville, Va., ending a two-year battle with mesothelioma.

Born in Chester, Pa., Al graduated from Episcopal Academy, where he played football, ran track, and captained the cross-country team. At Princeton, he majored in English, writing his senior thesis on Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim. He also belonged to Charter Club and played IAA sports.

In 1976, Al earned a veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After completing externships at the New York Animal Medical Center, he launched a veterinary practice in Charlottesville, specializing in small animals. He was a partner or co-owner of several Charlottesville-area animal hospitals until his retirement in 2013.

An exceptional athlete, Al was a nationally ranked short- and long-range triathlete in the 1980s. He was an avid sailor and enjoyed the sport for leisure and in competition. Al participated in the Caribbean 1500, helping to crew a sailing yacht from Chesapeake Bay to the Virgin Islands by way of Bermuda.

Al is survived by his wife, Finlay; sons Adam and Douglas; and sister Carol. The class extends condolences to them and the rest of Al’s family.