Obituary: Rae Smith

Many at UFV will be saddened to hear that Rae Smith, who worked in a number of departments over a 14-year career at the university, passed away on October 22, 2024.

Rae started at what was then UCFV as a temporary Counselling & Advising assistant in 1996. She worked as a secretary/receptionist for International Education for a few months in 1997 and 1998, before rejoining Counselling and Advising in 1998. In late 2000, she was seconded to a role as supervisor of the Information Desk in the office of the Registrar. This role became permanent in April, 2001. Rae retired from UFV in 2010.

Her friend and colleague and fellow retiree Elaine Harris, who worked closely with Rae, shared the following memories:

“I am sure staff in many departments remember Rae as the Abbotsford registration coordinator until she retired in 2010. Rae came on board during the earlier years of the Banner implementation and became a Banner whiz, always willing to help others with registration and fee issues. She will also be remembered as playing major roles in the office’s epic Halloween themes, the lucky person who won the grand prize in the fitness challenge twice, and the dedicated supervisor who still came to work with a broken leg. I remember her as being helpful, knowledgeable, hard-working, and fun. She will be missed by her sons, Dan and Chris, and their families, her friends, and especially by her life partner Mac (James MacDonald).”