an original peace corp volunteer dies from skiing fall

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Popular hills man dies from skiing fall

Elliott Varner Smith, was a renowned photographer and a creeks activist

By Eric Kurhi

STAFF WRITER

Elliott Varner Smith, an adventurous and popular resident of the Oakland hills, died May 16 as a result of injuries sustained in a skiing accident.



Smith, 66, became the eighth casualty of the ski season when he died from complications stemming from a severe fall on May 4 at Mammoth Mountain during a family ski trip.



Smith grew up in Palo Alto and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1962 with a political science degree.



He was one of the first volunteers for the newly created Peace Corps, serving for two years in Columbian villages, coordinating rural councils to construct and improve schools, health centers, bridges and trails.



Starting in 1967, he worked as a grant administrator for poverty programs in Alaska, Washington and Indonesia.



"He never met a stranger," said longtime friend Carolyn Kemp. "Everyone always became very attached to him."



Smith later combined his love of helping people with another passion -- photography. He became known for capturing images that revealed both people and nature in a manner that was real, colorful and graphic.



He spent time photographing in the southwestern United States, California, Ecuador, India and the South Pacific, with his works published in magazines such as Newsweek, National Geographic Traveler, Parade, Discover, Parenting, National Wildlife and Sierra, as well as text books, ads and calendars.



He worked for a quarter-century as an photographer for Publishers Weekly.



A lifelong environmentalist, Smith worked in Yosemite while in college, led Sierra Club backpacking trips and often skiied and photographed the slopes of the Sierra.



His environmental work recently took a local turn when he became active in Friends of Sausal Creek, dedicating himself to the waterway that ran practically through his El Centro back yard.



A key point in his life, said Kemp, was a voyage from Tahiti to Pitcairn Island, site of the marooned sailors in "Mutiny on the Bounty."



"He remained friends with people he met on the island until the end," Kemp said. "He probably would have wanted to end his days down there, in the South Pacific."



During his time on Pitcairn, he developed warm friendships with the islanders which continued throughout his life.



Donations may be made in his memory to the Friends of Sausal Creek, P.O. Box 2737, Oakland, California 94602.



EPITAPH



ELLIOTT VARNER SMITH



• BORN: Feb. 4, 1940, in Palo Alto



• DIED: May 16, 2006, in Reno, Nev.



• SURVIVORS: Sister, Judith Smith Whiting and her husband John of San Marino, a niece, Dawn Habgood of Duxbury, Mass., and a nephew, Chris Whiting of South Pasadena.



• SERVICES: A celebration of Smith's life will be held at 2 p.m. on June 18 at 2 p.m., at Joaquin Miller Park at the Joaquin Miller Pyramid in Oakland.





Eric Kurhi can be reached at 510-748-1686 or e-mail [email protected].





M O R E N E W S F R O M

• National Geographic

• Oakland, CA

• California

• Alpine Skiing

• Outdoor Recreation

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• El Centro, CA

• Discuss El Centro, CA

[snowbird]

in the words of uncle stinky,

hand me one dem beers right dere.

[SkiCop]

No, make it an Icehouse.