Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Smith, Cecil

Teacher, pastor; born Sydney, NSW, 15 February 1918; died Sydney, 30 July 2004, aged 86.

Cecil Smith and his five brothers received their primary education with the Sisters of St Joseph at Mount Street, North Sydney. One of Cecil's teachers, Sister Fiacre, recommended him to the rector of St Aloysius' College for a scholarship, which he received. Living in Mount Street facilitated Smith serving Mass at the Apostolic Delegation, where he met distinguished churchmen, including the future Cardinal Gilroy. While at school he showed special talent as a sportsman, especially in rugby and swimming.

He entered the Society at Loyola, Watsonia, 3 February 1936, and completed all his Jesuit studies in Australia, being ordained in his home parish of North Sydney, 5 January 1949. As his juniorate studies were in science and mathematics, he taught these subjects during regency at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1942-45. As the only scholastic on the staff, he was given most jobs, including sports master and OC cadets. He claimed that he never worked harder in his life than during those years.

After tertianship at Sevenhill in 1950, Smith was sent to St Louis School, Perth, until 1956, where he continued teaching mathematics and chemistry, and was first division prefect. He returned to Perth again, 1971-72, as minister and teacher of mathematics and science. In every community he lived, Smith was appreciated for his cheerfulness and good humour, performing his tasks with apparent ease and minimum of fuss.

He spent 24 years at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, 1957-70 and 1973-82. Apart from teaching mathematics, Smith was also the swimming coach, and enjoyed coaching the under 16As rugby team. When asked the secret of his success each year, he said it was because he had a good team! As minister, he was involved with matters financial in the re-development of the College. Each Christmas and Easter holiday he would visit his brothers and their families, and at Christmas attend the Anglesea villa, playing cards and golf. He is reputed to have two holes in one on the Anglesea course, and a career five holes in one. In Sydney he was a member of the Cromer Club. Smith made friends easily, and he was very pastoral with people in need.

From 1993-97 Smith was minister and assistant priest in the North Sydney parish, where he was especially appreciated for his short, meaningful sermons, and his acumen in saving money. He made new friends in this pastoral ministry.

Smith suffered from diabetes for 30 years, and after a stroke in 1997 he was confined to a wheelchair and later lost part of one leg. He did not wish to go to Arrupe House at Pymble, because he believed it was the annex to heaven! Instead, he went to live at Riverview in 1998, and became well recognised as he moved around the property in his wheelchair, sometimes at considerable speed. He loved company, and was determined to mix with people sharing his great gifts of cheerfulness, kindness and friendship. He never let his fourteen journeys to hospital in those years daunt his spirit or inhibit his strong determination to live. He accepted each setback with resignation. Towards the end, he went to hospital for twelve weeks and said that he wanted to return to Riverview to die. He did, and died 24 hours after he arrived. As much of his life was centered on North Sydney, it was appropriate that his funeral was from the parish Church.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)