Jerry & Donna Smith

 

THE OPEN ROAD

peace, love, happiness & understanding

 

August 7, 2025

 

In honor of Jerry, I will speak his name aloud to the trees and creatures of the earth, and tell them of his beautiful heart.

 

—Abe Green

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Our dear friend Jerry Smith died peacefully at his home on July 8th. Without Jerry, there would have been no prison dialogues or plays, no “A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison” film, no Open Hearts Open Minds, no Open Road. His love and generosity changed many many lives, including mine.

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Donna Smith dictated these words:

 

Jerry and I met when we were 18 years old and got married when we were 20. We had big dreams of doing great things in the world. And in our 74 years together I believe we made a contribution.

 

Jerry was generous. He was always willing to help people no matter what they needed. When he met a young girl with a broken bike, he bought her a new one. He bought a lot of bikes. He helped bicyclists with their flat tires. He met a woman whose son needed heart surgery. He helped with that. There are many stories like this.

 

Now that he’s gone, every room feels different. He was the love of my life.

 

—Donna

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Here’s a Father’s Day letter from his daughter Marsha:

 

Dear Dad,

 

A very “Happy Father’s Day” to you. Want to thank you for being a great Dad. For being the kind of person who doesn’t ask for or want their children to adjust their lives/schedules/political thinking/voting/child-raising philosophy/(insert anything here) to match what you think. I cannot ask for a better gift in life from a parent than this freedom.

 

Our brunch discussions from our time at Waverley have had such a lasting impact on me. I only wish that I was less dogmatic in my own ideas than I am today and more like you are, and were, when trying to help your children’s thinking through issues such as abortion, the death penalty, taxation, etc.  

 

I thank you so much for that time and for continuing throughout your life with this willingness to see situations through the eyes of the other person. 

 

I love you very much. 

 

Your daughter, Marsha

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Jerry’s daughter Chris wrote this:

 

Hey Dad,

 

I’m so glad you knew how much I loved you and how thankful I am for all you’ve done for the whole family. You were an amazing dad, and I just wanted to say thank you for everything. 

 

You protected me, when I was young, and always made sure I was safe. 

 

You guided me, so that I would know right from wrong and counseled me, when I clearly… “should have known better.”

 

You gave me a childhood, that most people can only dream of.

 

You taught me not to  judge people too harshly.… “You never really know what someone is going through,” you would say. 

 

You treated me with compassion, when it wasn’t deserved.

 

You never told me what to think or believe, but instead, you gave me some really thought-provoking ideas.

 

You taught me how to laugh at myself. You said it was important because, well, we’re all just humans, with our flaws and all, trying to figure out how to make the most of life.

 

You made my son the most important person in your world. Thank you for that.  He’s an amazing man! 

 

Thanks so much for always putting the family’s best interests first. And thank you for being such a great listener.

 

I know this might sound a bit biased, but I honestly believe you’re the best dad I’ve ever had, and you’re my hero!

 

I’ll always be so grateful for you.

 

I miss you a ton,

 

—Chris

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Jerry’s grandson Jordan wrote this:

 

Growing up, I used to feel a bit left out when conversations turned to dads. I didn’t have one around, and it stung. But with time, I realized something important—not everyone gets the incredible gift of having a grandfather like I did.

 

Most people knew him as Jerry. I had the exclusive honor of calling him Grandpa. He wasn’t just a grandparent—he was a father figure, a mentor, and a best friend. He taught me how to shoot a gun, how to pitch a tent, and how to drive a one-ton truck with a manual transmission. In every meaningful way, I really did have a dad.

 

He was generous and attentive, always willing to listen. He made people laugh, not with flashy jokes, but with genuine humor and a warm wit that stayed with you. His success in life wasn’t measured by titles or wealth, but by the community he built around him—one rooted in kindness, loyalty, and love. Until the very end, he was surrounded by friends and family who adored him.

 

As I write this, I’m not only honoring my grandfather, but also speaking to anyone who ever shared a good laugh with him. Anyone who’s ever made someone else smile because of something Jerry once said and those who have changed their lives for the better. Anyone who carries forward a bit of his spirit—his joy, his wisdom, his way of ending conversations with a clever remark.

 

If you’ve changed for the better after knowing him—if he made you a little happier, a little kinder—then I know he’s smiling. And I know he’s proud of you.

 

—Jordan

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Nicholas Swift spoke at the Celebration of Life for Jerry. This is what he said:

 

Good afternoon.

 

My name is Nicholas Swift.

And I am one of the living testaments to what happens

when someone chooses to believe in transformation—

not as a theory, but as a practice.

 

When I was incarcerated, I, like most in that environment, focused simply on surviving it.

I had no roadmap.

No vision of a life worth reaching for—only the instinct to endure.

And I don’t know if I can describe what life looks like when you’ve never seen what possibilities it might hold—

only the realities you were born into.

 

But then something unexpected took root.

Not because the walls changed—but because someone chose to plant sanctuary in the most unlikely of places.

 

That sanctuary was a theater program.

Not just as performance,

but as a form of communal remembering—

a chance to become human again in the eyes of others,

to remember that emotion and authenticity still had a place in our lives,

to bear witness to others as they walked towards that same realization,

to watch a rising tide lift all ships,

and see people I never would have thought it possible of

to become more genuine, insightful, authentic versions of themselves.

 

The theater program gave me more than a stage.

It gave me back my imagination.

 

It showed me, through the presence of others—

through the quiet, powerful seeing of people who believed in it—

that living wasn’t just something you did once you got out.

It was something you could begin right there.

 

Each man who stepped into that space became,

knowingly or not,

an ambassador of possibility.

A quiet signpost in the dark that said:

“It doesn’t have to end like this.”

 

And for every person who walks through that system unconcerned with change, 

there was someone else—

someone like me—

holding a hope they didn’t yet have words for.

 

There was a quiet aspiration towards something we had no words for, no way to describe beyond a felt sense of hope.

Theater gave that hope language.

It gave it form.

And most of all, it gave me a future I hadn’t dared to picture.

 

Not just a release date.

Not just a plan.

But a life.

 

Since then, I’ve built a business, become a Mentor, and started working towards my own nonprofit.

I want to offer to others what Jerry, and his family, through Johnny, once offered to me and those like me—

a glimpse beyond survival, toward something more true, more free, towards possibility.

 

And none of that would have been possible

without the person we’re here to honor—

and the family who trusted him, who trusted us,

enough to let the work speak for itself.

 

So I speak today

not just for myself,

but for every quiet spark that took flame

because someone believed we were worth the match.

 

Thank you.

For believing in what we might become.

For giving us a reason to try.

 

—Nicholas Swift

*

 

Denise Bare also spoke at the Celebration of Life for Jerry:

 

Jerry Smith’s Thread That Reached Me

 

I never imagined I’d be standing here, speaking at Jerry’s memorial.

 

Not as someone who spent time in prison. Not as someone who once thought her life was beyond repair.

 

But here I am—because Jerry believed in someone else.

 

He believed in his friend Johnny Stallings. He believed in Johnny’s wild idea that theater and art could belong in prison. That something sacred could happen when people on the inside were invited to sit in circle and talk about their lives.

 

Jerry backed that vision before it had a name. Before there were programs or grants or success stories. He believed in Johnny—and because of that belief, he ended up touching my life in ways I still can’t fully explain. He started bringing art into Two Rivers, to Columbia River and finally to Coffee Creek, where I was. Johnny had Carla Grant and Don Kern come and bring in theater and it changed my life.

 

I joined a theater circle while I was inside. Just a few hours a week. At first I thought it was a distraction. But it became a lifeline. A space where I could be human again. And behind that circle—behind the exercises, the plays, the visiting artists—was Jerry.

 

He didn’t know me. But he believed in the people who believed in me. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to change a life.

 

Jerry’s belief in how art can heal, restore, and reconnect helped me find my voice. His giving created a ripple that reached me. And now I get to be part of that ripple for others.

 

Thank you, Jerry, for trusting your friend and for never underestimating the power of a story shared.

 

I’m one of many you’ll never meet, but whose life you helped rebuild. My love and gratitude to Jerry’s wife Donna, daughters Christine, Marsha, and grandson Jordan. Your family is special and amazing, and your Jerry has touched my life, and I will forever be grateful.

 

All my love & gratitude,

Denise Bare

*

 

Here are some tributes to Jerry that people sent in:

 

Dear Donna Smith and Smith family,

 

Early on I was involved in Johnny’s work at Two Rivers Prison and became the first Board president. I watched plays, helped behind the scenes, and marveled at the amazing event of Shakespeare being performed by men who were new to his work, new to theater, new to finding their own deeper voices.

 

Later I became one of the dialogue group leaders, going out once a month, often with Bushra Azzouz. And like so many in Open Hearts Open Minds. I participated in the work and delight of finishing Bushra’s film Midsummer’s Night’s Dream in Prison and presenting the wonderful premier in Portland.

 

So much of what happened over the years at Two Rivers and then in other facilities in Oregon is the result of the interest and generosity of Jerry and Donna and the continuing support of all the family through the foundation. I feel grateful not just to have witnessed and participated in the OHOM’s programs but to have seen and benefited from the care of your entire family.

 

This support did not end with OHOM, in fact it continues, but has also been a motive force behind Open Road. Johnny has stimulated discussions, education and performances with Open Road, taking it beyond prison walls into everyday lives.

 

I am writing to acknowledge all of this in honor of Jerry’s memory and in respect for all of you. Thank you so very much. So many lives have been changed by your generosity.

 

With deep regards, 

Deborah Buchanan

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Dear Johnny,

 

I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your friend, Jerry Smith.  I know what a significant person he was in your life.

 

Over the years I had a few conversations with him at the hotel where we stayed when we went to the plays. In one that particularly impressed me, he spoke about his concern for you in a way that I could only describe as parental. It was clear to me that although he valued the work you were doing, his deeper interest was in you personally, and in your full flowering as a human being. 

 

We often talk about how lucky we have been in life, especially in the friendships we have enjoyed. You were particularly lucky in your relationship with Jerry, and he was equally lucky to have passed some of his time with you.

 

—Howard Thoresen

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Dear Donna, Christine, Marsha & Jordon,

 

I won’t try to speak to your loss, our whole community’s loss, except to lovingly wish you well as you live the coming days of grief and love. But I would like to say a bit about the gifts to the world that Jerry’s and all of your insightful generosity have made possible. I was able to attend several of the plays at Two Rivers as well as the movie of Midsummer Night’s Dream and the short one made by Prabu, and gladly receive news of how Open Hearts Open Minds  and The Open Road continue to touch lives as well as Johnny’s monthly  “peace, love, happiness and understanding” newsletter. Each of these love-offerings has and continues to remind all who witness and participate of the transformative power of creativity and love of all kinds: power to heal deep wounds and uplift spirits. From the inspired vision vast enough to be a container for all these possibilities and more, to the fragile precious moments of hope: what a wonderful legacy!

 

With Love and Gratitude,

Nancy Yeilding 

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Johnny, you were blessed by the patronage of Jerry Smith, which allowed you to manifest some of your dreams.

 

What a legacy he has left. The ripple of his loyalty, love and support will last for generations.

 

He believed in you!

 

So do we.

 

Warm hugs

Brenda Erickson

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I’ve said it a million times: “You all helped me and saved my life!” Living in a world full of love, wonder and beauty is what you gave me—and Jerry helped make that possible. I see what you all have done…so many of us now live in a world of Joy…

 

My name is Rocky Delos Hutchinson and although we have only met a few times, the abilities that you all gave to others have been the seeds that were planted in my heart, mind and soul, which provided me with a new life—one I will soon be able to live outside the walls of prison.

 

I only met Jerry one or two times, and his heart, his infectious smile and his tears of joy will forever be framed in the mosaic of images that make up my soul. I’m blessed to have that be a part of me.

 

His gift of love and a world full of new and wonderful people who showed me how to be open to everything life is, and how to be human again, gave me a second chance at a life…one I plan to fill full of kindness and beauty. This man provided me with life by his actions. I cry tears of love and joy now.

 

I cannot imagine the loss you feel. His love has helped all of us to grow. Through him, my tears of all things good cleansed my soul, and gave me a chance to live in love.

 

with all my heart, thank you

Rocky Hutchinson

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Dear Donna, Christine, Marsha & Jordan,

 

I am so sorry for your loss. I remember meeting you, Donna, and Jerry once. I believe at one of the open performances of Hamlet at Two Rivers. I can’t over state my gratitude for the opportunities that your 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

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Donna, Christine, Marsha, and Jordan;

 

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. After OHOM, I toured plays to culturally underserved, including incarcerated, audiences across the PNW and the USA. I’ve also recently started my own prison theater program on the medium side of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, OR. The same magic that existed at TRCI is in full-force at CCCF. I like to think that Jerry and the rest of your family is part of that magic that I’ve taken with me on my life’s journey that is now in full blossom at Coffee Creek. Thank you for everything and please know I’ll always keep Jerry in my heart.

 

All my love,

Patrick Walsh

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Dear Donna, Christine, Marsha & Jordon

 

Since meeting Jerry Smith I’ve cried a million tears. I’m crying now, as I write this. Going to prison broke my heart over and over again. A broken heart works better than a well-protected one, because feelings can get in and out more easily.

 

Yesterday morning, Carl Alsup called me from prison, and was talking about the time he played Marc Antony. He was having a hard time performing the role, because when he was rehearsing the funeral oration—“If you have tears, prepare to shed them now…”—he couldn’t help crying. Jack Poole, who was playing (the murdered) Julius Caesar complained that Carl was getting his costume wet.

 

I remember the day in the dialogue group when Carl told me that he found himself crying all the time. It was embarrassing, and he didn’t know what to do about it. Coming to prison at the age of seventeen with a life sentence, he had worked hard to maintain a tough guy persona. Now that was out the window. I wasn’t much help. He knew—all the men knew—that by the end of every performance my cheeks would be wet and my shirt tails soaked with tears. Of happiness!

 

What does all this have to do with Jerry Smith? Everything! Without Jerry, there would have been no prison dialogues or plays. From the time we first met, we liked each other. Over the years, our love for each other deepened. I miss him!

 

The love and support of all of you has changed my life. And Nancy’s life. And, thanks to what we like to call “the ripple effect,” it has changed and continues to change the lives of many many people. 

 

It’s some kind of Love Revolution! My gratitude to all of you knows no bounds.

 

—Johnny Stallings

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Dear Donna, Christine, Marsha & Jordon,

 

My name is Alex Tretbar, and while I didn’t know Jerry, his work has meant a great deal to me.

 

I was incarcerated in Oregon from 2017 to 2022, and during that time I met a number of incarcerated people who were involved with Open Hearts Open Minds, and whose experiences with the Shakespeare plays were transformative. Through them I came to know Johnny Stallings, who has also had a huge impact on my life. We struck up a correspondence while I was inside and that continues to this day. Much of my success and happiness since being released from prison can be traced directly back to Jerry.

 

I offer you my heartfelt condolences in what I know is a difficult time for you.

 

Best wishes from Kansas City,

Alex Tretbar

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Dear Donna, Christine, Marsha and Jordan –

 

We are so sorry you have lost Jerry. Helping to bring A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Prison to completion and dissemination has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our respective careers.  Jerry’s presence on stage at the Cinema 21 film premiere was a joyful moment that will always be remembered by us and the hundreds gathered. Jerry’s passion and support for bringing Bushra, Johnny and the Actor’s vision to life was clearly present in a warm and deeply human way.  Along with yours, his love of and belief in this project (and many others) has already brought joy, tears and the potential for growth to several thousand people, with more to come.  With the OHOM team, we will continue to help his legacy live on.  

 

We wish you peace and healing.  

 

Ellen Thomas (producer) and Enie Vaisburd (co-director, editor)

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Dear Jerry and Donna Smith Family,

 

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

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Smith Family,

 

We at Open Hearts Open Minds feel deeply honored and truly blessed to have known and been supported by Jerry Smith throughout the years. 

 

Every so often, the world is graced by someone whose generosity and spirit leave a lasting imprint — Jerry was undeniably one of those rare souls. His unwavering kindness, compassion, and commitment to others touched countless lives through his generosity supporting Open Hearts Open Minds. We truly would not be here if it wasn’t for his support from the beginning. 

 

Those who had the privilege of knowing Jerry and whose lives that were uplifted by his generosity stand as a living testament to his remarkable heart and legacy.

 

May you and your entire family find comfort in the deep gratitude we hold for the incredible person Jerry was, and in the knowledge that his light continues to shine through all the good he helped make possible through Open Hearts Open Minds art programs. 

 

Our deepest condolences,

 

OHOM Board of Directors

Josh Underhill, Dick Willis, Barbra Chen, Prabu Muruganantham, Lauren Scher, Aaron Gilbert, Messiah Shakur

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I barely have words to express how my involvement as a Group Dialogue volunteer at Two Rivers Correctional Institution changed my life. I am a more open, loving, compassionate person for sitting in circle with those men, and for learning the way of the “Nonstop Love-In” from Johnny. 

 

I met Jerry a couple times and was touched by his smile, kindness, and generosity. My heart is sad knowing I will not be in his presence again.

 

Love, 

Kristen Sagan

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Dear Jordan, Christine, Marsha, and Donna,

 

My heart goes out to you during this time of sweet and tearful transition. Jerry was a beautiful soul and will be greatly missed. His way of being had a truly positive impact on so many lives. What a lovely legacy to leave behind.

 

I remember the first time I sat down with Jerry. His bright eyes and his smile were so welcoming. Don Kern and I had been facilitating the theater program at Coffee Creek for about a year. We were greatly changed by the experience and wanted to continue the work, but knew we could not afford to do so without financial support. That’s when Johnny Stallings introduced us to Jerry Smith. Jerry leaned in to ask pertinent questions. He was not only kind, but thorough. He was a smart man and wanted to make sure we would be responsible stewards. I loved visiting with Jerry. And not just because he always insisted on dessert.

 

It’s been 11 years since I first stepped into the rehearsal room at Coffee Creek. I get to witness first hand the effect of arts in the lives of our incarcerated community.  My life took a completely different turn after volunteering in prison. I have increased my empathy quotient and have learned to embrace the creative spirit within us all. I would not be the person I am today without Jerry and the family. Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

Carla D Grant

Executive Director

Open Hearts Open Minds

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Dear Donna, Christine, Marsha and Jordan, 

 

I want to send my deepest condolences for your loss. Even though I only met Jerry a couple times and didn’t know him personally, his kindness and love has forever changed my life in the most important way. 

 

I became involved with Open Hearts Open Minds in 2009 while incarcerated at TRCI. During one of the darkest periods of my life I was lucky enough to be part of the Dialogue and theatre group there. Without Jerry’s generosity and his willingness to want to help the forgotten ones I shudder to wonder where my life would be today. You see in that little room on all those Wednesday evenings I was able to discover who I am and for the first time find true freedom in my life. The best part of it is that I am not the only one that discovered this. Not only the group of guys I was involved with but also continuing to this day, I can’t imagine how many lives have been impacted by OHOM. I know they have branched out into many institutions and are doing some really life changing work. I know this because I am now a board member and am so excited to see where this goes and continue this amazing work, and do my part in carrying on Jerry’s legacy of kindness love and compassion. It takes more than a community to pull this off it truly takes a family and I am so blessed to be part of the OHOM family. I want to thank you again Jerry for the gift of life and freedom. And thank you to your family. 

 

God bless you all,

—Aaron Gilbert

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What a great opportunity to share my reflections on past memories of great performances presented by the actors at Two  Rivers Correctional Institution for several years. My experience, as well as my sister Andrea’s, left us each with great joy. At each performance we were overwhelmed to be given the opportunity to share the experience with those dedicated men. They were professional in every way possible and outstanding in their individual performances.

 

When the opportunity would come around every year, for five years, we would make our plans to travel from Salt Lake City to Umatilla and attend every performance. It was the highlight of our lives at that time.

 

It was always overwhelming for us to meet all the actors and have brief conversations with them. That gave me the opportunity to ask each of them if I could write to him and send him a birthday card. I had a strong desire to communicate with them because so many of them were lost or forgotten souls—alone and needing acceptance by people from outside those prison walls.

 

It gave me great pleasure to correspond with them, to learn how they were doing, and to allow them to share their thoughts, feelings and the successes they were making.

 

This all was made possible by the dedicated work of Jerry on behalf of the inmates at Two Rivers who took advantage of that great program.

 

I am always grateful for the joy and fond memories that fill my heart when I reflect back on those days.

 

Most sincerely,

Sharon Lemm (Momma Sharon)

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To all,

 

The Dialogue and Theater Group was a saving grace in an otherwise dreary place. It inspired hope, purpose, friendship and most of all, love. This program influenced the lives of so many individuals from the players to their families and friends, people who were able to witness and experience the meetings and plays, people whom they then spoke to about their experiences and so on. This experience still influences thoughts and discussions far outside the origination. There are not enough kind and appreciative words to express the feelings about Jerry’s contribution and help in making OHOM a reality. Thank you to him and everyone who supported him in his efforts to help establish and maintain OHOM. He truly changed the lives of countless individuals as a result.

 

With great thanks and admiration,

Sincerely,

Joseph Opyd

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I don’t know—-do you think Jerry Smith had any idea how his life—-his generosity, his gentleness, his gentle humor, changed the lives of others? Made others more generous, compassionate, aware, grateful? So many others!

 

I know he changed my life, gave me the blessing of getting to know and understand and admire scores of incarcerated men at Two Rivers Correctional Institution, for seven years (and still counting). Our dialogue group of fifteen to twenty men laughed, cried; we discussed life, talked about forgiveness, redemption, beauty, joy, shame, love, suffering. I left each Saturday I was there, driving home on Cloud 9, exhilarated and joyful, humbled and blessed.  If only everyone could experience days like that they would change their views forever on incarceration.

 

Yes, Johnny started the program, that and the theater program, and was responsible for running both for years and years, beautifully and meaningfully. But behind everything was Jerry—and the whole Smith family. They all were, and are, caring and compassionate human beings.

 

—Jude Russell