Name:
Samuel “Sam” Gladstone Smith 
Location served:
Chatham  
Years in Practice:
1965 to 1998
Area of Specialization:
Anesthesiology  

Biography:

Dr. Samuel “Sam” Gladstone Smith was born in Harwich Township (Chatham-Kent), Ontario on the 9th of October, 1934.  Dr. Smith was one of 5 children born to Gladstone Smith and the former Irene Scoyne.  His family had a fruit farm in Cedar Springs and his siblings were; James, Harry, Betty Ann and Geraldine.  Dr. Smith was a graduate of Blenheim District High School.

Dr. Smith enrolled in Queen’s University and graduated with a medical degree in 1959.  He then completed an internship at Victoria Hospital, London, in 1960. Dr. Smith began his first practice the following year in Wingham before returning to Kingston to obtain a fellowship in anesthesia, which he completed in 1965.

Dr. Smith moved back to the Chatham-Kent area in 1965 after a meeting with fellow anesthesiologist, Dr. John Packham.  Dr. Smith worked at both the Public General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham.  He served as the Chief of Anesthesiology at the Public General Hospital from 1967 until his retirement in 1998.

When he was not working, Dr. Smith enjoyed curling, slow-pitch, golf, bridge and spending time with his family.

Dr. Smith was married to Jean Elizabeth Ramsdale on the 11th of August, 1956 at St Luke’s Church in Raleigh Twp. Mrs. Smith was born in Raleigh Township (Chatham-Kent), Ontario on the 26th of September, 1933.  She was the youngest of 2 children born to Robert Tole Ramsdale and the former Lillian May Russell.  Her parents were farmers and her sibling’s name was John David Ramsdale.  Mrs. Smith was a graduate of the Public General Hospital School of Nursing.

Dr. and Mrs. Smith had three children; Taire, a teacher, Bryan, a lawyer and Patricia an accountant and six grandchildren.

Mrs. Smith passed away in 2002.

After her death, Dr. Smith resided in Chatham with his black lab Bentlee.  He died in London, Ontario on the 30th of January, 2020.  Dr. and Mrs. Smith are buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

*Dr. John Stewart Packham is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.