Edwin Steven Smith

Dr. E. Steven Smith 1939 ~ 2006 Dr. E. Steven Smith, a former dean of the UNLV School of Dental Medicine and Founder and Director of the Crackdown on Cancer Initiative for the State of Nevada, died Monday in Las Vegas of interstitial fibrosis of the lungs, which he had for over three years. He was 66. E. (Edwin) Steven Smith was born November 8, 1939, in Ogden, Utah to the late Eldredge Smith and Elaine Williams. He married Kaye Waldron in 1963 in Salt Lake City, then graduated from the first class of Weber State College in 1965. He received his degree from Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago in 1970. Dr. Smith taught as a Professor of Oral Diagnosis/Oral Medicine at the dental school and had an active practice in Chicago for 27 years. In 1998, he was asked by Nevada State Senator Raymond D. Rawson to participate in the development of the 55th dental school in the United States. In August 1999, Dr. Smith was appointed Acting Dean of the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dentistry and worked with university, state legislature and national government officials to get the school built. He saw his dream fulfilled when, on September 1, 2002, the first class of 75 dental students entered the school. On May 13, 2006, Dr. Smith proudly looked on as this same class graduated. Besides being a dedicated and loved dental educator for more than 36 years, Dr. Smith was a renowned forensic dentist and was instrumental in the identification of victims of major U.S. plane crashes and many other forensic chores since 1978. For more than six years, he worked with the Clark County Coroner's Office as the Chief Forensic Odontologist. Dr. Smith was an active and dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in the East Central States and held positions of leadership in the church throughout his life. Dr. Smith had a great knowledge of and love for the scriptures, which he shared with many by word and example. Despite his ailing health over the past six months, Dr. Smith maintained his characteristic optimism, imparting counsel to his children and making his grandchildren smile. One of his last activities was to record the day's events, as he had done faithfully for the past 25 years, in his journal. He is survived by Kaye, his beloved wife of 43 years; his children, Curtis (Laura) Smith, Jenny (John) Johnson, Maryam (Fred) Chaney, Andrew (Shauna) Smith and Aaron (Courtney) Smith; 14 grandchildren; and his dear mother Elaine. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his only sibling, Dennis E. Smith, in 2005.