Christopher Robin Smith

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness we mourn the passing of Christopher Robin Smith. Chris, known as “Smitty” to many of his friends, was born December 27, 1963, in Waco, Texas, the youngest of the four Smith boys. Our family moved to the Dallas suburb of Garland in 1966, where we grew up and attended school, with Chris graduating from Lakeview Centennial High School in 1982.

 Family vacations experienced as children, including visits to Florida, New York, Canada, Mexico and Las Vegas instilled in Chris a lifelong love of travel and road trips. He greatly enjoyed music, playing trombone in high school and college, and he attended many concerts over the years. Duran Duran and the Police were a couple of his favorite bands, and he developed an appreciation of Celtic music, as well as Irish culture, in his later years.

 As teenagers, we became infatuated with muscle cars, spending many afternoons hanging around a small local car dealer that specialized in hot rods. Many people have been regaled by the “not so tall” tales of Chris’ beloved 1965 GTO he purchased from that very lot. Hours were spent poring over copies of Car Craft and Hot Rod magazines.

 Chris attended Texas Tech University and the University of North Texas before deciding to follow in our father’s footsteps and joined the United States Air Force. I believe one of his proudest days was having our father see him graduate from boot camp. He served 12 years in the active service and reserves, primarily in the Denver area, a place he would call home for the rest of his life.

 After leaving the military, Chris worked throughout the Denver area as a Director of Safety Management for a Comcast contractor. Away from work he was not one to be idle, actively enjoying many interests and hobbies. For many years, he was an avid baseball fan and autograph hound, amassing an impressive collection of signed memorabilia, especially baseballs and baseball cards. He often carried a few new Major League baseballs with him, in case he met a player or celebrity he could convince to sign one. Jeff Foxworthy, I’m looking at you. He rooted for the Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies, with Nolan Ryan and Todd Helton among his favorite players. He travelled to attend Spring Training games, where it was easier to get players to autograph his treasures.

 In 2002, Chris met the love of his life, Cassandra McDaniel, and they were married 2 years later. He was a loving step-father to Cassandra’s son Christopher, and thoroughly enjoyed being a dad. As both a couple and a family, Chris, Cass and Chris enjoyed sporting events, day trips around Colorado, movies, concerts, and visiting Disney theme parks. They travelled the country, exploring sites from New England to Florida to California. Chris and Cass had planned to spend their 21st anniversary in Hawaii, the only state Chris had yet to visit.

 Chris collected comic books and comic art, especially Marvel comics, and he was a fount of knowledge on artists both old and new. Captain America and the Rocketeer were among his favorite characters. He and Cass would vacation to numerous Comic Cons across the country to visit with the many collectors, dealers and artists he befriended over the years.

 Chris loved to talk. He loved to laugh. He reveled in meeting people, and definitely inherited the “Smith” gift of gab. Whether carrying on about comics, cars or current events, Chris was always up for a spirited debate. Cass wanted to be sure I mention that Chris was also a real Mr. Fix It, and could repair almost anything.

 It’s impossible to know what to include when authoring my brother’s obituary. I can hardly begin to tell all the wonderful things I believe and people have told me about what a fine person my brother was. I love him and miss him terribly. He was taken from us too soon, for there are still so many stories to be told, states to be visited and comic shops to be explored.

 To his amazing spouse, Cassandra, and step-son Christopher, I offer my earnest and deepest sympathy.

 Chris is survived by his wife and step-son, his brothers Kevin Greene Smith and Francis Hunt Smith, his nieces Jacqueline Kibiri, Courtney Coker, and Alexis Johnson and his nephew Trey Smith, his uncle Woodie Greene, and numerous great nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his mother and father, Ancelyn Greene Smith and Donald Joseph Smith, Sr., his brother Donald Joseph Smith, Jr. and sister-in-law Cathy Coker Smith.

 A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm, Sunday, April 13, 2025, at The District, 400 West South Boulder Road, Suite 1700, Lafayette, Colorado 80026.