Department of Religious Studies

Professor Emeritus, David H. Smith died in his sleep on Saturday October 5th 2024, he was 85.

The son of Herbert and Celeste (Rocke) Smith, David was born in Evanston, Illinois on April 28, 1939, and was educated in public schools in Evanston. His childhood in Evanston instilled in him a lifelong enthusiasm for the Chicago Cubs. His list of notable achievements began early, as he attained the rank of Eagle Scout as a boy.

He graduated from Carleton College in 1960. On June 3, 1961 in Northfield MN, David married Marie-Louise Arnaud, whom he had met at Carleton. After receiving his BA from Carleton, he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1964 and then a PhD from Princeton University.

After graduation from Princeton he took a position at Indiana University in 1967, where he helped to launch the Religious Studies department. He was a key player in establishing the department’s undergraduate major, master’s degree, and doctoral program. He chaired the department of Religious Studies from 1976 to 1984, and was a popular and award-winning teacher, twice being awarded teaching prizes.

Much of David’s intellectual work was in the area of religion and bioethics. He received a fellowship at the Kennedy Institute of Bioethics at Georgetown University, and spent a sabbatical year in England, where he was a volunteer in a hospice, an experience that complemented his work to help found Hospice of Bloomington. He continued to build institutions and develop initiatives at Indiana University and in 1983, he became director of the Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions. As director of the Poynter Center, he oversaw projects concerning the teaching of ethics, care for the dying, genetic testing, research ethics, the moral responsibilities of trustees, and the relationship of religion and ethics. Throughout all this institution-building and achievement at Indiana University, he earned a reputation for being the “Dick Clark” of the Religious Studies department – that is, someone who seemed to be “forever young” and vibrant.

In 2003 David retired from Indiana University, and began a remarkable new chapter of his career. He served as the Frederick Distinguished Visiting Professor at DePauw University, where he helped start the Janet Prindle Institute of Ethics. David served as a visiting professor of bioethics in the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale for the 2003-4 academic year and then served as Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics at Yale.

Among his other career achievements, he directed the National Endowment for the Humanities seminars for college faculty members for two summers and one academic year, and conducted professional development training conferences for the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps. A fellow of the Hastings Center, he was a consultant on the teaching of ethics and values in higher education and chaired the executive committee of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics for ten years. He served on the Board of the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities. David’s publications include Health and Medicine in the Anglican Tradition (1986), Entrusted: The Moral Responsibilities of Trustees (1995), and an impressive number of articles and co- authored works.

David was an active member of the community at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington beginning shortly after his arrival to Bloomington. He served in numerous lay leadership roles including the Vestry and Christian Education. He assisted with fund raising for several building expansions. He was an active participant in almost every service he attended. Many of his close friends hail from this loving community. He enjoyed a good potluck supper and a pastry from Crumble at the Men’s Group breakfast. From 2000 to 2003 he chaired a Task Force on Ethics and the New Genetics created by the church’s Executive Council and he was active with the Episcopal Scholar’s Guild.

David was a loving and supportive husband, and was an enthusiastic helper for Marie-Louise’s recorder students’ recitals and receptions, and events during the summer Recorder Academy. He also worked closely with Marie-Louise on bringing the International Dance for Parkinson’s to Bloomington and proudly served on its Board until his death. David was a warm, loving, and encouraging father and grandfather. He was a boundless fountain of support and encouragement for his children (Alexandra, Zachary, and Jacob) and his grandchildren (Jonah, Henry, Catherine, Benjamin and Grace). He was always the loudest supporter at any game or performance of his grandchildren (“hot whoop!”)

David Smith lived life to the fullest, and was always a beacon of hope, wisdom, generosity, optimism, vitality and encouragement to those around him. His unflagging sense of hope and optimism is clearly seen in his eternal faith in the Chicago Cubs. He loved deeply and was much loved. His life is worthy of celebration, and he had a profound influence on his family as well as on his intellectual field and his religious community.

The family wants to thank David’s loving caregivers from WellCare (Koshie, Becky, Priscilla, Proxie, Tonia, Larry and Michael) and Jim with IU Health Hospice. A special thank you to Vera, Joyce and Mary Ellen for their love and support.

A memorial service will be held in January 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Trinity Episcopal Church Second Century Fund, Dance for Parkinson’s of Bloomington, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, or the Marie-Louise A. Smith Recorder Pedagogy and Performance Fund.