Harold "Joe’ Smead, 1925-2003

Joe Smead, a full-time Vail resident, died at age 78 on Dec. 18, at Presbyterian-St. Luke Hospital in Denver. A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Vail Interfaith Chapel with Pastor Carl Walker officiating.

Smead was born in Spokane, Wash. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University.

Smead was president and CEO of Kaiser Aerospace and Electronics Corporation from 1974 until 2000. He was active on the aerospace advisory board at the University of Colorado and endowed a chair for the aerospace department. In addition, he was active on numerous educational and professional boards.

Smead and his wife, Ann, had been part-time residents in Vail since 1989 before moving to Vail full time in 1999. Locally, the couple has supported many nonprofit organizations, including the Vail Valley Foundation, Gore Range Natural Science School, Vail Valley Medical Center Foundation and the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.

Smead is survived by his wife, Ann; his four sons, John and wife Kathy of Costa Mesa, Calif., Bob and wife Chenda of Saratoga, Calif., Mark and wife Connie of Pleasanton, Calif., and Thomas of Trenton, N.J.; daughter Cathy of Boulder; stepdaughter Amy Gish and husband Mike of Vail; stepson John Becher of Bend, Ore.; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

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The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Vail Valley Medical Center Foundation, Attn: Shaw Cancer Center Caring House, Post Office Box 40000, Vail, CO 81658.