Jonathan Smith Obituary

Former Sunbeam Corporation executive passes away at 90. Jonathan Smith, a resident of Glen Ellyn for the past 35 years, passed away on July 26th. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kay; his children, Cathy, Marge (Gilbert) Tresley and Jon (Diane); as well as three grandchildren, Kate, Geoff and Jennifer. Mr. Smith was born on May 18, 1920, in County Durham, England, the first of three children of Louisa and Sydney Smith. He studied at the University of Illinois in Champaign and received a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1947. Mr. Smith served with distinction as an Army Sergeant stationed in the South Pacific with the U.S. Army Coast Artillery. He was awarded a Bronze Star during his time overseas. Mr. Smith spent almost his entire career with Sunbeam Corporation. He joined the company in 1947 as a sales engineer with the Industrial Furnace Division. In 1958, the division was renamed Sunbeam Equipment Corporation and operations were moved to Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was promoted to President of Sunbeam Equipment Corporation in 1968. Mr. Smith's many civic involvements during his time in Meadville reflect his passion for service and his longstanding belief in giving back to the community. He served as president and board member of a variety of local and philanthropic organizations during his years there, and he received many awards in recognition of his outstanding work. In 1975, Mr. Smith was promoted to Group Vice President of the Industrial Group of Sunbeam Corporation, and he was transferred to the company's corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. At that time, he and his family moved to Glen Ellyn. Two years later, he was elected a Corporate Vice President and President of the Industrial Group. In 1980, he was promoted to Executive Vice President of the company. Mr. Smith retired from Sunbeam in 1984, and the following year he and two business associates formed Seco-Warwick Corporation. He officially retired when he sold the company in 1989 at the age of 69. Throughout his life, Mr. Smith distinguished himself both professionally and personally. A wonderful husband to Kay, father to Cathy, Marge and Jon, father-in-law to Gil and Diane, and grandfather to Kate, Geoff and Jennifer, Mr. Smith made them his top priority. Over the years, he always managed to balance the rigors of a very successful business career with quality time spent with his beloved family. Mr. Smith leaves a remarkable legacy - a decorated war veteran, an outstanding businessman and community leader and a loving family man. It seems fitting that he was a member of that highly touted "Greatest Generation" - a generation who thought first and foremost of others, asking nothing in return. In his eulogy, it was said that Mr. Smith will be remembered for the qualities he embodied -- his warmth, his kindness, his humor, his generosity and his loyalty. Mr. Smith lived long and well, and his family and his many friends will think of him often with love, appreciation and admiration.