Click on the image to read about the late, great Janet Smith.
A week ago today we learned that a very, very dear friend passed away. Janet Smith, who was also a neighbor, had staved off ovarian cancer for nearly two years. Janet was a tenured professor in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). But that’s just a title. She was a teacher, a mentor, a world-renowned researcher, and an advocate. She was not an ivory tower academic. She was a force of nature. She was 59.
To give you a sense of her broad impact, nearly 400 people attended a Zoom tribute to her yesterday.
I was going to try to tell readers about her in my own words, hoping it would be therapeutic for me. But the enormous scale of her impact (where to start?), the depth of our love for her and her husband, and the freshness of the wound make that impossible.
That may change, but meantime, I invite you to read her official obit from UIC:
https://today.uic.edu/obituary-janet-smith
Janet was also a committed faculty union member: She was President of the UIC United Faculty union. It issued its own statement.
http://uicunitedfaculty.org/uicuf-president-janet-smith-has-passed-away/
And here at the Urban Affairs Association:
Click on image to see the short clip.
And maybe give a look to this YouTube clip about “battling cancer” from the late comedian Norm Macdonald—who recently died from cancer himself.
I think Janet would have approved.
I am so sorry for your loss, Mike and Beth.
Thanks Paula.
Love the title. I’m so sorry James, Mike and Beth. Her memorials speak volumes about her.
Thanks Nancy. Hope all is well down there. I do hope to write more about our friendship with Jim and Janet. We had a lot in common, including CU, and we lived on the same block but we’d never crossed paths until a lucky accident put us together. Jim has been an absolute prince and they were a fantastic duo.
Dammit Janet is perfect! Yesterday’s tribute was lovely. We will miss her.
She operated in so many spheres, I don’t know how she did it. Boundless energy. Tribute was nice–even knowing her well, I didn’t realize how much impact she had.
Mike and Beth, you have lost more than one good friend in the last few months. Not only friends but people who made a difference to the lives of many. Thinking about you.
Thanks Lola.
Oh gosh. Thanks, Mike. I met her from time to time somewhere–political events I think. enough to have a fond memory. This is so heartbreaking. Appreciate the video.
Thanks Regan. I’m sure you were at the same events more than once. Indivisible, the Chuy campaign are two that come to mind. But she also attended and spoke at rallies.
It’s a big loss for and for the city.
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