It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of David Warner Smith Jr., who peacefully departed on May 24, 2026. Born on September 4, 1967, in the vibrant city of New York, he was the cherished son of Dave Smith and Tevy Vetter.
Dave spent the majority of his formative years in Park City, Utah. He graduated from Park City High School in 1985, where he found immense joy on the football team. He later graduated from the University of Utah. He held a deep sense of pride as an alumnus of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
While Dave had a wide array of sports interests and became a devoted fan of numerous teams, his heart belonged to the Minnesota Vikings, Utah Jazz, and the Utes.
Music held a special place in Dave’s soul. One of his mother’s fondest memories is of Dave’s youthful exuberance, was him dancing in front of the stereo in his diapers.
Dave possessed an extraordinary gift for storytelling and was the life of any gathering. He effortlessly engaged in conversations with everyone, especially children, who adored his infectious energy and ability to captivate them with his stories.
Dave is survived by his mother, Tevy Vetter; his sister, Katie (Mark) Bruder; his brothers, Han (Connie) and Matt (Lili) Smith; his nieces, Ellie Bruder, Avery, and Cora Smith; his nephew, Wyatt Smith; his cousins, Chris (Andrea) Brownell, Jason Brownell, Dan, and Carolyn McGrath; and his step siblings, Tim (Molly) Vetter, Mary (Steve) Hall, Wendy Rusk, and Tommy Vetter.
In Dave’s memory, the family plans to embark on a hike on one of his favorite trails this August 15th.
As a tribute to Dave, donations can be sent to Second Chance Animal Rescue of Puerto Rico at scarpr.org, Best Friends Animal Society, or any animal shelter in lieu of flowers.
