Wayne G. Smith, 70, a legend in the high school band community, died peacefully last month after a lengthy illness.
He was the son of the late George C. Smith and Lois Polcha Smith. A lifelong resident of Elmhurst Twp. he was a 1971 graduate of North Pocono High School, and a 1975 graduate of Mansfield State College, where he met his wife, Kathie, who also became a music teacher.
Smith served as a beloved band director for the Dunmore School District beginning in 1976, first as assistant band director before taking over the top job in 1981. At Dunmore, he influenced the lives of countless students who continued to remain in his life as friends and colleagues..
He taught fourth grade beginner band right up through high school band for much of his career. This meant that his students had him as their teacher for up to eight years, during which he took an interest in everyone’s success, whether it was in music or something else.
After his retirement in 2011, he became an assistant for performance music at the University of Scranton, and he continued to play in various ensembles throughout his music career. His legacy remains strongest, however, as a music teacher, a role he filled with enthusiasm and dedication.
A former student, Karen Loessy Brown, who graduated from DHS in 2003, recalls, “Music is an outlet for students to gain confidence and come to express themselves. He provided a thriving and fun environment for students to learn about their own strengths and weaknesses and grow into themselves. Many students made friendships in band that have lasted a lifetime.”
Along with that camaraderie, came trips to New York City to see shows, performance trips up and down the East Coast– from Boston to Disney World–and countless local parades.
Mrs. Brown notes, “His goal was not necessarily to make his students the best musicians, but the best people. For many, band was where they learned discipline, consistency, the results of practice and hard work, pride in their work, and the importance of another of Mr. Smith’s favorite quotes: ‘To Be Early is to Be On Time, to Be On Time is to Be Late, and to Be Late is Not To Be’.”
Mr. Smith himself once said about teaching, “I feed on it. I thrive on it. I just love watching kids be happy. It’s fun setting goals and then watching as they achieve them.”
Along with his students, Smith was deeply admired by his fellow teachers and area band directors. He was considered the “patriarch” of band directors.
Smith certainly was able to relate to his students. He was in the marching band himself at North Pocono High School, and grew up playing percussion, horn and saxophone, and then focused on baritone horn while at Mansfield.
Karen Brown has so many recollections of his influence, including one of his favorite sayings: Keep the Momentum.
“Generally, this was a reminder to us to take whatever progress we made and keep building on it,” she explains.
“Wayne will be remembered as someone who was always willing to lend an ear and provide encouragement,” she says. “Simply put, he put his students first.”
Wayne is survived by his wife, Kathleen Sears Smith, who he married in 1975. They were blessed with three children, son, Cory (Annaliza) and their children, Alessandra, Benjamin, Charles and Elena; son, Mark (Erin) and their children, Nathan, Kassidy, Colin, Andrew and William; and his daughter, Meghan.
Smith loved spending time with his grandchildren and could be seen encouraging them at their sporting events, music concerts, and dance recitals. Dedicated to his community, he was a member of Elmhurst – Roaring Brook Fire Company, where he served in many capacities including fire chief. He could be seen every year running the kitchen at the annual fireman’s picnic.
An outdoor enthusiast, he was often spottted hiking the local trails and playing the links at Elmhurst Country Club and other courses with his golfing buddies. He and Kathie enjoyed the vast beauty of this country on several road trips across the United States, visiting 49 states.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elmhurst-Roaring Brook Fire Department, 246 Blue Shutters Road, Roaring Brook Twp., PA 18444 or North Pocono Trails Association, 307 Market St., Moscow, PA 18444
In addition, a Wayne G. Smith Scholarship fund has been set up by the Dunmore School District. Checks can be made payable to the DHS Scholarship Fund, with notation for the Wayne G. Smith Scholarship in the memo line, and mailed to Dunmore High School, Attn.: Nicole Zywicki, 300 W. Warren St., Dunmore, PA.