RICHARD N. SMITH, M.D., AN APPRECIATOR OF LIFE

DR. RICHARD N. Smith cultivated things.

Not just the plants in his well-stocked garden (where he could recite all of their Latin names), but people, especially children, who thrived under his skill and compassion as a child psychiatrist for 50 years.

"He was always thinking of people," said his son Steve Smith. "He was loved and respected by everyone who knew him."

Richard worked in numerous psychiatric venues throughout the region over the years, working primarily with children and their families, many of them seriously troubled.

One of his major accomplishments was helping to create the city's first psychiatric unit for children at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, in 1991.

Richard Smith, who worked long hours at his profession and took full advantage of vacations for travel and recreation, including trips all over the world, a man of many talents who performed classical music on the violin, died Monday of pancreatic cancer at his home in Jenkintown. He was 83.

He was a fan of the quiz show "Jeopardy!" and would shout out answers at the TV screen. He was a wine connoisseur who came to hate spending more than $10 for a bottle.

He was always trying to get people to follow his many enthusiasms. Whether a plant cutting or a sample of wine, he would say, "Here, try this. Isn't it wonderful!"

His son said that when Richard was in hospice care and only semiconscious, he once sat up and exclaimed, "How do people who don't have any family do this?" Then lapsed back into unconsciousness.

One of Richard's favorite vacation spots was what his son described as a "ramshackle resort" on Rendezvous Bay in the Caribbean island of Anguilla, where he met with a collection of curious characters ranging from the wealthy to beach bums.

"Dad worked very hard," Steve said. "When he went on vacation, he left soon and came back as late as he could."

Richard Smith was born in Philadelphia to Silas Smith and the former Irma Goldberger. He graduated from Central High School in 1946, and went on to Swarthmore College on a scholarship. He graduated in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in zoology.

He served in the Army from 1951 to 1953 as a medical-laboratory technician. He received his medical degree from Jefferson University Medical College in 1957.

Richard did his internship in adult psychiatry at Norristown State Hospital, then worked at the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Unit and the Children's Psychiatric Unit from 1961 to 1963. He wrote a graduation paper titled The Adopted Child.

He was a staff psychiatrist for the Montgomery County Mental Health Clinic, now the Montgomery County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center, then returned to Norristown State Hospital in the adolescent unit.

From 1967 to 1990, he was on the psychiatric staff of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, serving as medical director beginning in 1978.

He was mental-health consultant to Cheltenham Township and Buckingham Friends School, and was medical director of the Valley Center for Mental Health in Lansdale.

Richard was working in the psychiatry department at Einstein when he helped create the psychiartric unit for children.

When he retired in 2004, he was a staff psychiatrist for the Central Montgomery County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center.

Richard Smith was also a highly regarded teacher. He was a clinical associate professor in the child-psychiatry department at Hahnemann University, and adjunct supervisor in the psychiatry department at Widener University.

His passion for opera and classical music led him to study violin at the Settlement Music School, and he performed with small groups and orchestras. He was a longtime benefactor and advisory-board member of the school.

He and his wife, Doranne, were married in 1953.

Besides his wife and son, he is survived by another son, Andrew Leader-Smith; a daughter, Margo Smith; and five grandchildren.

He also is survived by his loyal golden retriever, Golda.

Services: Memorial service 3 p.m. today at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Settlement Music School, P.O. Box 63966, Philadelphia 19147.