Stephen A. Smith

Stephen Alexander Smith, born in September of 1981, passed away on June 24, 2023. Born in Frankfurt, Germany into a military family. His life was marked by a continuous thread of service to others and an unbridled love and generosity for family and friends.

His interest in nursing began as a child, but blossomed when he was a volunteer firefighter in Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelors in Nursing and began his career as an ER Nurse before moving on to Trauma Nursing. For a greater challenge, he joined the Air Force Reserve as a Flight Nurse. Beginning as a LT and rising to Captain.

Through the Air Force he met Lt Janine C. Shreve. Long distances could not keep them apart. They became engaged during an annual Trauma Conference in Peru and married in August of 2010. Their joy was magnified by the arrival of their daughters Lillian in November of 2012, and Abigail in July of 2015.

He balanced a career at the University of Utah Hospital Trauma Center, working in trauma nursing and later as a manager of an outpatient clinic, with a deployment to the Middle East in 2013. There he cared for casualties from Afghanistan being flown to Dubai and Germany. Still knowing he had more to give, Stephen had earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health and joined the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team in 2017. This was his self-described “Happy Place,” and he would answer a call for help at all hours of the day and night to rescue, recover, and comfort those lost and injured in the Wasatch mountains.

His boundless drive led him to a new challenge. With Janine at his side, they became the proud owners of Quality Pool and Spas in March of 2022. Regretfully, their plans came to an end when he was critically injured during a service call.

Stephen’s grit, hard work, and humor were apparent to all who met him. Of all his many accomplishments, his proudest will forever be his role as a father and husband. The world is poorer for his passing, but we are richer for having him in our lives.

He is survived by his wife Janine, his children Lillian and Abigail, his parents, Stephen and Elizabeth Smith all of Holladay, UT, and his sister Juliana Thies of MI.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team or your local organ donation foundation.

All are encouraged to share their memories at www.rememberingstephensmith.com.