Calvin Remembers Bill Smit
“He was one of the most unassuming persons I’ve ever known. Never showy. Self-effacing. Quiet and gentle. A man of few words,” said Rodger Rice of his longtime former Calvin colleague Bill Smit.
Smit, 94, died on Sunday, August 24, 2025. He served as a professor in Calvin’s sociology department from 1967-1996. While his former students and colleagues appreciated his kindness and dry sense of humor, they also know he’d be uncomfortable having an article written about him that highlighted these and other positive character qualities.
“He absolutely hated having the spotlight turned on him,” said Cheryl Brandsen, who was both a student and colleague of Smit’s. “I’m sure his preference would be to keep things simple and brief,” added Rice.
So, we’ll do our best.
Taking a student-centered approach
During Smit’s nearly three full decades of teaching, he prioritized his students. Rice witnessed this as he team-taught some classes with Smit.
“Bill was not a showy teacher in the classroom. He was not one to ever get an award for being voted most popular teacher. He was quiet, reserved, and very methodical in his teaching. And he understood very well how students learn and how to help them learn,” said Rice. “I’m thankful for the privilege of co-teaching some classes with Bill. There is much I learned from him that made me a better teacher.”
“He went out of his way to help students be successful in a course most were not initially crazy to take,” said Brandsen who was a student in his research methods course.
“Students came first. He refused to attend faculty meetings. I think this was because he wanted to spend his energy on teaching well, and he didn’t see how spending time in faculty meetings helped him be a better teacher in the classroom,” added Rice.
While he prioritized his students, he also cared deeply for his colleagues in the sociology department.
“He was a quiet colleague who did his work faithfully and with integrity, and as with students, he did whatever he could to help his colleagues flourish,” said Brandsen.
Actions reveal deep-rooted faith
In short, he may have been a man of few words, but “he meant what he said, and he said what he meant. Inside was a soft heart. He cared for people, especially his students.”
And that came from a deep-rooted faith.
“Bill devoted himself to his family and his students. He held to a strong sense of justice. Yet he was always ready to show mercy,” said Rice. “He didn’t carry his faith on his sleeve; it existed deep inside himself.”
Smit is survived by his sister Hazel Timmer, his daughters Laura Smit, Jane Smit, and Sally (Brian) Verstraete, his son Charles Smit, his daughter-in-law Debra Sloterbeek, and five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.