Catholic University of AmericaTrinity College

Pieter Hendrik Smith, DDS December 13, 1935 - June 12, 2022 Resident of San Jose Pieter was quite proud of having been born in Manhattan, New York, NY, although he and his parents Nicholas Hendrik and Margaret Cornelia Sullivan Smith moved to Bloomfield, NJ when he was 2 months old. His mother, from Lowell, Massachusetts, graduated Trinity College, Washington, DC. A native of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, his father emigrated at age 14 with his parents and younger siblings, escaping the devastation of WWI and finding their way to Michigan. Seven years later Nicholas graduated from Oberlin University. Nicholas was a CPA for GE and Cornelia, as she was known, met her future husband in NYC when she began working for GE. Pieter was named for his grandfather: Pieter Hendrik (originally Smit but changed upon arrival in the US to Smith as Smit was "too German sounding" for 1914). Young Pieter lived the good life of an East Coast child, learning to ice skate at age 2, sledding with friends and attending Parochial School in his early years. His sister Elizabeth Dorothea (called Penny) joined the family six years later. From Bloomfield, the family moved to Bowling Green, KN where Pieter and his best friend, Jimmy, shared the only cigarette Pieter ever smoked, although both his parents "smoked like chimneys". Bowling Green dentist Dr. Shreve would never know the future career he set in motion for his young 11-year-old patient, Pieter, totally fascinated with those tools of the trade. When the family moved to Richland, WA, Pieter's Irish Catholic mother needed reassurance that there would be a Church they could attend out there in the Wild West. His mother returned to teaching once Penny was in school and Pieter finished high school…a Columbia High "Bomber", an honor student and President of his 1952 Senior Class. He worked in a dry-cleaning establishment doing deliveries, pressing, and sewing on buttons, his pay handed to his father for later college disbursement. Richland was a GE Nuclear company town totally owned by the US government: the houses, shopping centers and schools. These prefab home styles were assigned letters: G, E, and H were three-bedroom homes and rents were $50 unfurnished and $62.50 furnished with beautiful hard rock maple pieces. Pieter had a tuition scholarship to Yale which regrettably he could not accept as room and board and transportation to New Haven were not a financial possibility for the family. Pieter was granted a Diocesan scholarship to Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. which did include room and board. He "hashed" in the dining hall for spending money. Soon after moving into his room, he was fascinated to hear music coming from a room around the corner. It was a recording of Beethoven's Fifth. Thus, he was introduced to classical music and to his lifetime friend, Gustav, a German emigrant, who would spend his professional life teaching math at Catholic. Gus married a Breton and she increased Pieter's passion for the French language. With his goal to become a dentist firmly in mind, maintaining his perfect grade point, Pieter took 23-4 units a semester for the two years it took him to complete the curriculum Northwestern University Dental School deemed necessary for admission. He had a full scholarship to Northwestern with Lakeshore Drive Lake Michigan view dorm accommodations complete with maid service. Pieter traveled on his stomach and his immediate concern became getting enough food. He was quite a fast typist and became more so as he typed medical transcriptions for the Medical School. Thus, he earned adequate cafeteria meal chits for subsistence. He married, completed school, and entered the Navy. At the top of his class, he had some ability to select his assignment and chose Treasure Island to which he always referred as his "hardship station" and told all including his children he had been an Admiral. On completion of his two years of service he moved to San Jose where he raised his three daughters and worked diligently to build his Westwood Drive, Willow Glen dental practice. He moved his practice across the street when he bought and remodeled a multi-office building. Early on, he had been referred patients by several old time San Jose dentists and later he gave the same hands up to younger dentists. Pieter invested in multiple unit properties in San Jose and Campbell. Friends and family called it his Monopoly game. He was very handy and enjoyed doing maintenance. It was his hobby. Westwood Properties is his legacy to her daughters. In the early 70s he divorced and subsequently married Jacqueline Hendry Huntsman. He had three daughters and Jacqui had two, initially stuffed in his bachelor pad Eichler. Four of the girls were six and under and the eldest just turned 13. Pieter's college days discovery of classical music continued as a life passion. He and Jacqui attended and supported Symphony Silicon Valley, Opera San Jose, Peninsula Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and in years past, San Jose Light Opera. He was particularly supportive of education and gave his time and treasure to Catholic University of America, Santa Clara University and San Jose State University. Pieter became an enthusiastic traveler after he and Jacqui married. He particularly enjoyed Europe and was quite the Francophile. He loved history and he loved art. Pieter Smith was a happy, accomplished man. The words of John Greenleaf Whittier spoke to him: "For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are those 'It might have been'." He always looked forward and often expressed having no regrets. Pieter was for 50 years plus active in the Santa Clara County Dental Society. He served as President and on a variety of committees including Peer Review which he chaired for some years, as well as serving on the Building Management Committee. Most recently he was treasurer for the Santa Clara County Dental Society Members' PAC. Pieter was a member of Rotary Club of San Jose where he was most involved in the Downtown Development Committee. He was a long-time member of San Jose Elks Lodge #522. Pieter gave generously of his time, talent, and treasure, living the words of former Oracle CEO and President Ray Lane, "Ultimately time is the most important asset you have. Not money. Not fame. It's time, and it's how you utilize that time." And most often, his gifts were anonymous. Pieter's patients became his friends and he cared deeply for them. His family has received several letters relating how upon a death in their family, Dr. Smith told them they would never receive another dental bill and carried that out until his retirement. Dr. Pieter Smith is survived by his loving wife, Jacqueline (Jacqui) of 48 years; his adoring daughters Kathleen Nixon (John) of Falls Church, VA; Deborah Hall (Kevin) of San Francisco and Carmel; Theresa Elam of San Jose. His devoted sister Penny Karlsten (R. Michael) of Beaverton, OR and their son Christopher Karlsten of Washington, DC. survive him. He raised stepdaughters Krista Huntsman Bauer Giovara (Aaron) of Hillsborough and Shauna Huntsman of Seattle, WA. Grandpa Pieter leaves his much-loved Bauer step-grandchildren Kelsey of Dallas, TX; Kristopher (Kris) of Eugene, OR; Kellen soon of Fort Worth, TX; Katherine (Kate) of San Mateo/Hillsborough and their supportive father Kristopher Bauer (Joan) of San Mateo. He had a close friendship with Jacqui's brother Dr. John Hendry (Yvonne) of Folsom, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents Nicholas and Cornelia Smith and his daughters' mother, Judith Reich. Pieter passed peacefully in his sleep. He requested no formal memorial. His immediate family will honor him at a future date this summer. Should you wish to donate in Pieter's memory, Rotoplast was close to his heart. Rotary Club of San Jose, 1690 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112 View the online memorial for Pieter Hendrik Smith, DDS

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