JAMES SMYTHE

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JAMES (TERRY) SMYTHE James (Terry) Smythe peacefully, at Riverview Health Centre, on March 29, 2017, after four months of Palliative Care at home. He was born in 1938 in Fort Covington, New York. Predeceased by his parents, Vivian and Stephen Smythe, as well as his siblings Patricia, Bruce, and Neil. Survived by his sister Stephanie and brother Brian. He leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Gloria Smythe, children Robin (Greg Dennis), Michelyn (Tom Guld) and Sean (Susan Taylor), as well as grandchildren Jack, Henry, Aidan, Tovah, Nolan and Quinn. Terry was extremely proud of his family and gave them many gifts, including teaching his children useful life skills such as how to play poker, baseball, basketball, how to bet on the horses, and how not to take any s**t from anyone. He wasn't, however, blessed with skills of manual dexterity. With the hands of a priest, he managed not to wear out the one hammer he owned during his lifetime. Smart, opinionated, curious, and witty, he loved to engage in debates about politics and current events. Anyone who spent a dinner in his company knows that at least one reference book, but more likely two or three, would make an appearance next to the potatoes to deepen discussions and settle arguments. And many a poor boyfriend or girlfriend of Terry's children would be stumped by his inquisitions about the GDP of their ancestral home country. Those remarkable few who survived the vetting process loved, respected, and admired him. Being the ultimate gambler interested in new technologies, he combined his independent nature with an entrepreneurial spirit and started his own successful businesses, including Mycroft Business Computers and MCR Microcomputer Rentals. Terry loved to travel and meet new people, and spent many years involved in the Rotary Club's student exchange program, helping to organize the short-term international exchanges and hosting students from Australia, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, and India. He loved to play golf, but in his later years he was forced to watch it on TV (especially tournaments afar, which he watched live due to his well-known nocturnal habits). A surprise at first to many, Terry took up square dancing later in life, donning a vest and swinging with verve and prowess. He was an extremely loyal person, and delighted in spending time with his lifelong friends. He believed that there was always room at the table for one more: 'you just 'throw more water into the stock pot'. We will miss you and remember you always. The family would like to extend a special thanks to caring staff at the Pacemaker Clinic and cardiac care at St. Boniface Hospital, W.R.H.A. Palliative Care program at home, and the Palliative Care unit at Riverview Health Centre. In lieu of flowers or a service, take yourself out for a nice lunch or coffee. Think of Terry at your favourite diner as you ask your servers about their studies or the cooks about their musical tastes.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 31, 2017