Joseph T. Smeeding '13 Memorial Endowed Scholarship - "Making Pigs Fly"

Joseph Timothy (‘Joe’) Smeeding passed away peacefully and without pain surrounded by family and friends on Friday, January 12, 2018 after a two-year battle with glioblastoma multiforme. In his memory and honor, his parents Mary Ann Laubacher and Tim Smeeding, along with his brother Patrick Smeeding, have established the JOSEPH TIMOTHY SMEEDING ’13 ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP for undergraduates at Syracuse University.

Joe was born April 6, 1991 in Syracuse, NY. He was a communicant at Immaculate Conception Parish and later at All Saints in Syracuse. He graduated from Manlius Pebble Hill High School in 2009, where he was co-captain of his high school basketball team. He graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University in 2013, majoring in economics with a minor in mathematics. Joe received a master’s degree in economics from the University of Arizona in 2015, where he was pursuing his doctoral studies in economics.

Joe had a gift for making everyone laugh. He will be remembered for the good times he had and the smiles he brought to people’s faces. Joe was also intellectually curious and a great conversationalist. He cared a lot about people and was always accepting of others. He enjoyed chess, playing guitar, and playing recreational basketball whenever possible.

He was tenacious in spirit: he never gave up as he went through surgeries, radiation, chemo and diligently wore his Optune Cap 24-7 to reduce tumor swelling for over a year. He never once complained—ever.

He is survived by his mother, Mary Ann Laubacher, his father Tim Smeeding (and stepmother Marcy Carlson), and his siblings, Patrick, Ryan, Erin Nicole, and Finny Smeeding, as well as his cousins, many devoted aunts, uncles and an entire world of friends.

In the words of Joe’s mother, Mary Ann, “Joe was kind, a good friend and super smart, funny, hilarious and, as Joe faced cancer head on, he also exemplified faith, hope and love.  He inspired faith in me that I didn’t know I had. Joe taught me what love really means. He accepted care and love without qualifications. It was the only thing he ever wanted and in the end, it is really what he gave back to all of us. People think I took care of Joe but it was more often the other way around. On one clinic visit we forgot a battery for his Optune cap. I was sure if I didn’t keep him plugged in that I would be failing him again. When we got to the clinic I found out that his labs were not OK (I had been assured they were) so he could not take chemo. I was so upset that a mistake had been made, even though it was a minor one in communication, that I lost it and started crying. Joe put his arm around me and everyone saw (everyone!) that it was Joe taking care of me. I explained that I could not accept mistakes regarding Joe’s care because there were enough of those in the past. The doctors and nurses nodded sympathetically and Joe said, “OK, now can we go eat?”

I think hope is when you believe that something can be better. Joe never lost hope, never gave up. But then hope changes, Sometimes it was a hope for a good day, or hope that Joe would never experience pain, that he would not suffer. And Joe did not suffer. In the end, Joe just went to sleep. He looked peaceful and incredibly beautiful in that last moment and I knew he was OK. I heard the angels fold their wings around him and his spirit lifted and all that was left was his body. And then Joe was everywhere.

Joe left us all wiser, smarter, happier and better. I could never ask Joe, “What if you die?” “What if you don’t make it?” So I asked “What if you cannot have any more treatment?” He thought a moment, as he did after his second surgery when he had to struggle with getting his words organized and he said simply “I’ll do my best.” So do your best. Do it for Joe. He never did anything halfway. No regrets. Live your life to the fullest, laugh every day, be kind and Joe will live on in our hearts.

Finally, remember a gem from Joe’s Facebook posts: “I want you to wake up tomorrow morning and get dressed really close to the mirror. Look at yourself the whole time, don't break eye contact. Put a distressed look on your brow as if you were a true detective. Get to know yourself this way for at least 5 minutes. Then, turn around, head out that door, and be a true detective.” Keep your ninja skills strong. Peace out.””

“Education is of the highest value and I know Joe and all of us want to help students who need such.” – Tim, Joe’s father

Thank you for supporting the Joseph Timothy Smeeding ’13 Endowed Scholarship Fund.  100% of your gift will be added to the fund which will live in perpetuity at the University, helping hundreds of students for generations to come.

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