September 30, 2026
The Society was deeply saddened to learn of the death on 14 August 2026 of one of its former Presidents, Dr William Eric Smith, at the age of 95.
This was reported to us by another former President of the Society, Emeritus Professor Ian Sloan AO DistFRSN FAA, who was a long-term colleague of Dr Smith in mathematics at UNSW.
Ian Sloan writes that ‘Dr William Smith (Bill, later Will, at his request) was a long-serving member of the Applied Mathematics Department from around 1960 until the mid 1990s. He was a true gentleman, never saying an unkind word about anybody, even though he served through the famous war between Professors Blatt and Buchwald. He was a good bloke.’
The entry for Dr Smith in the RSNSW Presidential Profiles states: ‘Mathematician Dr William Smith was educated at Sydney Technical Boys’ High School in Paddington, NSW, then studied electrical engineering and physics at the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a BSc and the University Medal in 1952. During the mid-to-late 1950s, he worked for the Division of Electrical Technology at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), which awarded him a scholarship to study at Oxford, where he graduated in 1956. On returning to the CSIRO, Dr Smith worked on precision electrical measurements, microwave spectroscopy and electromagnetic circuit theory. From around 1960 to 1984 he was a senior lecturer, associate professor, then an honorary professor with the School of Mathematics at the University of NSW. He was a Councillor of the Royal Society of NSW for many years, was its President 1970–1971, and received the Society’s Medal in 1981.’
The Society extends its sincere condolences to Dr Smith’s family, friends, and colleagues.
There will be a memorial service at 11:30 on Friday, 2 October 2026 at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. For more information and service details, please see https://gregoryandcarr.com.au/memorial/LiV77KJ1Gg/dr-william-eric-smith/
