Jerry Smith
April 12, 1933 – July 8, 2025
Jerry Smith passed away at his home in the early morning on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025.
Put simply, he changed my life. He changed a lot of people’s lives.
From our first meeting, he was willing to support me doing dialogues in Oregon prisons. I don’t know why he believed in me. But he did. Our friendship is one of the greatest gifts with which my life has been blessed. In the prisons a kind of love miracle happened, which changed my life and a lot of others live too. Jerry’s love made it all possible. Without him, and the Smith family, there would have been no prison dialogues or plays. Here are just a few of many tributes to Jerry and his generous spirit:
What a legacy he has left. The ripple of his loyalty, love and support will last for generations.
Warm hugs
—Brenda Erickson
I was so sad to hear about Jerry’s passing. There have been few times in my life that I’ve been lucky enough to share space with such a compassionate, kind, human. I was happy for every second I got. For a few years, I was a volunteer through and also a board member of Open Hearts and Open Minds. I directed three shows at Two Rivers Correctional and also helped facilitate a weekly dialogue group at Columbia River Correctional. These experiences changed my life. Because of the generosity of Jerry and your family I was able to see theater as a tool to do good in the world, not just as passive entertainment. That has guided my life ever since. Thank you for everything and please know I’ll always keep Jerry in my heart.
All my love,
—Patrick Walsh
I feel I’ve done well on my journey, thanks to the friendship & love I receive from all of you. I cry & get filled with tremendous energies in my soul. This place dampens them, although I push through with a joyful intent…
Give Love Always
—Rocky Hutchinson (writing from Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution)
I can’t overstate my gratitude for the opportunities that your foundation [Jerry & Donna Smith Family Foundation] made possible through supporting Open Hearts Open Minds. I saw the peace those programs brought to the participants first hand. Personally, being a part of OHOM completely altered my life trajectory. I learned so much about myself and the world during my time with the folks at TRCI and CRCI. I would not be who I am today without those experiences. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Jerry and you all have helped make the world a significantly better place.
With all my love
Victoria Spencer
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jerry Smith. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time.
Mr. Smith was more than just a generous supporter — he was a true believer in the work Open Hearts Open Minds does and the lives they touch. That was evident in his desire to watch the theatre productions at Two Rivers Correctional in Umatilla Oregon through the years. I had the privilege of performing for him during many productions in Umatilla, so I was personally impacted by his generosity in supporting Open Hearts Open Minds and other art programs inside prisons. His compassion and commitment made a meaningful impact, and his legacy will continue to live on through the causes the family foundation champions and supports.
Please know that my thoughts are with the Smith family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know him. May his memory be a blessing and may the work he did through his foundation serve as a tribute to his enduring spirit.
With sympathy and respect,
Josh Underhill
OHOM Theatre participant at Two Rivers Correctional Facility
President of the Board, Open Hearts Open Minds
Without Jerry Smith, there would be no Open Road. From the beginning the primary financial support for The Open Road has come from the Jerry and Donna Smith Family Foundation, which has included Jerry, his wife Donna, their daughters Marsha and Christine, and grandson Jordon.
Here’s the story:
In July of 2006, Jerry came up to me after a performance in Portland and asked about my recent solo performance of Hamlet at Two Rivers Prison in Umatilla–“How did it go?” I told him it went well, and that I was planning to teach a class at the prison. He said, “Maybe I can help.” This turned out to be a massive understatement.
I began doing two 3-hour-long meaning-of-life dialogues with men at the prison every Wednesday with support from Jerry’s foundation. After 6 months, Jerry encouraged me to start a nonprofit organization, which I did: Open Hearts Open Minds (openheartsopenminds.org). It’s still going strong.
After two years of weekly dialogues, one of the men asked me if I’d like to do a play with them. In 2008 we staged a performance of Hamlet. It was the first time that inmates in an Oregon prison had done a play by Shakespeare. Along with my partner Nancy Scharbach, we went on to do seven more plays–mostly by Shakespeare–before passing the baton to other directors. Jerry and Donna Smith came to all the plays. All this time, weekly dialogues continued.
I facilitated weekly dialogues in Oregon prisons, more or less every week for thirteen years. The primary financial support which made this possible came from the Jerry and Donna Smith Family Foundation. In 2019, I decided to move on to the next adventure, which turned out to be…
The Open Road.
As with Open Hearts Open Minds, the Jerry and Donna Smith Family Foundation has been the primary financial sponsor of The Open Road from the beginning, up to the present.
I owe an unbounded debt of gratitude to the Smith Family for their love and generous support for nineteen years!
I miss my dear friend Jerry!