Obituary of Dr. Peter Colvin Smith

Dr. Smith, Peter Colvin -age 80 of Bridgewater passed away at Ridgewood Assisted Living, Bridgewater, where he had lived since May 2019. Born in East Orange, New Jersey, in 1944, Peter was a son of Robert I. and Shirley J. Smith.

Peter grew up in Livingston, New Jersey. Peter attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and was in a 5-year program, at the end of which he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in aerospace engineering.  It was at Brown University that Peter met Julia Berry, also a student at Brown. Both were in convocation choir and had a love of music and singing. Peter loved sports and played on the rugby team at Brown and was captain of the team in 1966.

Peter and Julia were married a week after their graduations from Brown, on June 17, 1967. Peter went to work for Avco in Wilmington, Massachusetts. He decided to change focus in his science/math career and went back to school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1969. He graduated from a joint M.I.T. - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution program in 1973, with a PH. D in Physical Oceanography. Peter was offered and accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, N.S., and took up that position in September 1973. In January 1975, Peter was offered and accepted a permanent position as research scientist in Coastal Oceanography at Bedford Institute of Oceanography (B.I.O).

In his 37-year career at B.I.O. (he retired in 2012), Peter directed many programs. He did research for tidal power generation. Also, Peter’s knowledge of currents showed rescuers where to look for remains after the Swiss Air disaster, and he received thanks and a gift from the Swiss government for his help and advice.

Peter’s great love was not his science but his two sons, Benjamin and Jonathan. He was always so supportive of their activities and proud of their accomplishments, helped coach their sports teams, helped with their science projects, and was their beloved DAD. In the “good cop-bad cop” of parenthood, Peter was definitely the “good cop”.

Peter is survived by his wife, Julia; his two sons, Ben and Jonny; his sister, Patricia; brother, Rob; grandchildren, Malachi and Melvina; nieces and nephews.

Private celebration of life service to take place in August. In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter’s memory may be made to Musique Royale. Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater where online condolences may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com