Andrew Robert Smith
July 19, 1988 - June 21, 2021
Andrew Robert Smith of Keystone, Colorado passed away suddenly Monday, June 21, 2021, from injuries sustained in a car accident.
He was born on July 19, 1988, in the mountains of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Just four months later, Margaret Joyce and Robert Smith adopted Andrew and brought him to the United States.
At a young age, Andrew was a good-hearted, kind, and outgoing boy who was always smiling and laughing. He loved music and spent a lot of time with his dad playing guitar and attending concerts. His high school band “Fresh Cut Lemons” rocked Jimmy Eat World.
In middle school Andrew found wrestling and he competed well on both the Unionville HS and Clarion University varsity teams. He worked hard in the practice room, and as captain helped lead Unionville to a 16-4 record while he became a Regional Qualifier.
Andrew received a Bachelor of Science degree with Magna Cum Laude honors in Elementary Education in 2011 from Clarion University. He always kept in his mind that through life he would be both teacher and pupil. He sought out and pursued new learning every day. His students enjoyed his lessons and Andrew aspired to make them good citizens of the world.
After graduation, Andrew moved to Keystone, Colorado, and quickly fell for all that the winter mountain life had to offer. He became a ski instructor and loved telling stories about his “Keystone ski school kids”. The following year he was certified to teach snowboarding. He wanted to stay in Summit County, so Andrew started his own landscaping and irrigation company to fill the summer months. At night he could also frequently be seen working at the locally famous Restaurant “The Mint”. He was affectionately known as the “Mayor of Keystone”.
Andrew embraced the outdoors, fitness, and challenging sports. He had great respect for those in the military and had himself been training for an Army Special Forces tryout. His talents were many and varied, including martial arts, yoga, meditation, mountain biking, and extreme hiking. Like his dad, he loved listening and playing music. They saw Tom Petty on his last tour to Red Rocks. He embraced his “brothers and sisters”, which defined just about any friend or relative he got to know well. He leaped to attend family gatherings and reunions and pretty much stole every show with his humor, smile and infectious personality.
Andrew left an indelible mark in the hearts and souls of all who knew him, and we are totally blessed to have had him in our lives. Andrew had grown into a man who made us proud of the way he lived his life on earth. Now he gets to sit beside his sister Christine in heaven and wait for the rest of us to come to the party. Andrew will forever be in our hearts and will be greatly missed by the many who knew him.
Andrew is survived by his parents Margaret and Carl Annas, Bob Smith and Sue Welsh; his sisters and brothers Jennifer Annas (Zack Gerber), Amanda D’Elia (Tony), Jeff Annas, Austin Welsh (Lauren), and Justin Welsh; his grandmothers Ruth Joyce and Sarah Smith, and his many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister Christine Smith, and grandfathers Arthur Joyce, Jr. and Lawrence Smith.
A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 AM (Mountain Time) on Saturday, July 31st at Lumber Baron Inn, 2555 W 37th Ave Denver, CO 80211. The dress will be casual and held outdoors as Andrew would have wished. The service will be videotaped and available for later viewing by contacting the parents.
A private interment will be held in the Washington Memorial Gardens at Valley Forge, PA. Andrew will be laid to rest next to his sister, Christine Smith.
Services
Saturday, July 31
10:30 AM
The Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens
2555 W 37th Ave Denver, CO 80211
The dress will be casual and held outdoors as Andrew would have wished. The service will be videotaped and available for later viewing by contacting the parents.
Make a Donation
Andrew loved helping those in need, teaching children, and the outdoors. Donating to a charitable organization of your choice supporting what he enjoyed doing most is a great way to honor him. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
GUATEMALA PARTNERSHIP of New Castle Presbytery - Supports many projects that improve the lives of women and communities in Guatemala. Check donations are to be made out to Trinity Presbyterian Church and marked in memory of Andrew Smith, then mailed to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1120 Darley Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19810 More information about the Guatemala Partnership can be found on: npcguatemala.com
SOS OUTREACH, Denver – Helping Denver city youth gear up for Life – This included city kids learning to ski. Andrew was one of their ski instructors every winter. Donations can be made online at sosoutreach.org. Please indicate the donation is “in memory of Andrew Smith”.
More information about the SOS OUTREACH organization can be found on: sosoutreach.org
