Edmund 'Peter' Smith

Edmund Peter Smith II, 72, of Bozeman, died Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in the loving company of dear friends. He successfully fulfilled the words he cherished, Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out shouting 'holy shit... What a ride!' And what a ride it was. Peter was born August 10, 1935, in Racine, Wisconsin to Catherine Vernet Smith and Kent Smith. By 1957, he had graduated from Yale in architecture and engineering. After graduation Peter worked for a time as an investment banker in New York City, before continuing on his escapades. Throughout his life Peter called Wisconsin, New York, Geneva, Brussels, Milan, San Paolo, London and Bozeman home. He spent five years racing Formula Ford cars, moved to Italy where he spent a year and a half trying to start a company that would harvest olives off the trees, and worked in the family company, Twin Disc Corporation in Belgium until retirement. Retirement, for Peter, was simply a new adventure. For two summers, he crisscrossed the country in a camper in search of the perfect place to put in new roots. He finally set his sights on Bozeman, where he and his wife, Renee Angelo Smith moved a year after their marriage in 1992. The pair lived in the house that time forgot. If you went in for a twenty-minute visit, you left six hours later, heart and stomach full. Peter was a connoisseur of good living and better friends. In his younger days he enjoyed big game hunting in the Canadian Rockies, before pursuing sporting clays and waterfowl and upland bird hunting. Peter was determined not to let his Parkinson's diagnosis in 1999 dictate his life. Peter was the same person at 21 as he was at 70 - he didn't change all that much over the years, he just got a little more potent. To the very end he was sure he could still drive a race car, shoot a shotgun, execute the perfect cast, party until the sun came up and that he had the balance of the skier Jean Claude-Killy as long as he used his two walking sticks. Peter had a strong affection for people of all ages from all walks of life #8211; one did not know Peter for long before they became a friend. Peter nurtured these friendships with all he had and kept a hearty supply of single malt scotch and fine bourbon to share over lovely long dinners and better conversation. Peter also adored his two feline companions, Gato and Flicka, and always greeted them when he walked in the door of their home. He epitomized the soul of the Read Wine and Books club, which combined his loves of the written word, companionship, and spirited discussions. Peter's biggest disappointment was that his Bozeman friends were too much like the puritans of New England and his swimming pool did not get to see enough of them. His memory is treasured and he is deeply missed. Peter was preceded in death by his wife, Renee. He is survived by his children David Smith, of Brussels, Belgium; Laura Shermer, of San Miguel, Mexico, Daniel Smith, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Suzanne Smith, of San Miguel; siblings Michael Batten, of Racine, and Linda Barrington, of Englewood, Fla.; grandchildren Andrew Martin, of Boston; Martin Smith, of Brussels; Camille Smith, of Brussels; Nathan Smith, of West Palm Beach; and David Smith, of West Palm Beach; as well as many close friends in Bozeman and around the globe. Memorials in Peter's name may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, www.michaeljfox.org; American Parkinson's Disease Association, APDA - Parkinson's Center, 500 15th Avenue So., Great Falls, MR 59405, Attn: Lydia; or Gallatin Sporting Clays, www.gallatinclays.org, P.O. Box 3483, Bozeman, MT 59772-3483. A celebration of Peter's extraordinary life will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Saturday, June 14, at 2 p.m.