Jack Bruce Smith

Jack Bruce Smith, 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in the arms of his beloved wife, Jean, while holding her hand.

Jack was a dedicated and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. He was known for his remarkable ability to befriend anyone and for being a thoughtful listener. Quiet by nature, Jack preferred to listen rather than speak, often asking just the right questions to put others at ease.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Margarette Smith.

Jack was born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, where he attended Wakefield High School. He went on to earn a degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign and later received his MBA from Virginia Tech.

Jack met the love of his life, Jean, on a blind date. He took her to her senior prom, and she knew from the start that they were meant to be. They spent the next 60 years side by side, building a life full of love, adventure, and friendship.

After college, Jack began his career with Exxon in New Jersey, where their first daughter, Jenny, was born. The family later moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where Jack joined The George Hyman Construction Company. Their second daughter, Julie, was born early one morning in Washington, D.C. After counting fingers and toes and kissing Jean, Jack went to work that same day and oversaw the largest single-day concrete pour at L’Enfant Plaza. Jack had a deep love for his daughters and shared a close bond with both of them.

Jack spent 35 years with George Hyman, helping the company grow into what is now Clark Construction Group, where he served as Vice President. Over the course of his career, he moved his family to many places, including Richmond, Virginia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; McLean, Virginia; Los Angeles, California; and Chicago, Illinois. After retiring from Clark, he continued consulting for Matt Construction, based in CA, traveling coast to coast. Wherever Jack and Jean lived, they made lifelong friends.

Jack loved to teach and led by example. On jobsites, he took the time to explain what needed to be done and was always willing to stay until the work was finished. His strong work ethic often meant weekends at office trailers, with Jean, Jenny, and Julie in tow—while he hoped they would stay out of trouble. George Hyman (now Clark) was built on relationships, trust, hard work, and caring for others—qualities Jack embodied every day.

Outside of work, Jack had many passions. He loved early mornings at the gym, windsurfing, hiking, snow skiing, and being outdoors. He was an avid reader and played guitar throughout his life. He began teaching guitar classes in Richmond, Virginia, and continued teaching through retirement, sharing his love of music with generations of young students. He took great joy in watching them grow and perform.

Jack and Jean’s love and partnership were a powerful example to their children and grandchildren.

Jack is survived by his wife, Jean, of Alexandria, Virginia; his brother, Mark Smith, and wife Sharon of Harrison, Arkansas; daughter Jenny and husband Thor of Broad Run, Virginia; daughter Julie and husband Ken of Spotsylvania, Virginia; and five grandchildren: Brad and wife Emily of Harrisonburg, Virginia; Sarah and husband Joe of Front Royal, Virginia; Lauren and fiancé Ryan of Bedford, Texas; Samantha, a junior at West Virginia University; and Emily, a senior in high school. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins across the country.

Jack was passionate about education and lifelong learning. Over the years, he shared countless books and endless knowledge with those around him. He touched many lives with his intelligence, wit, and generosity.

In the final weeks of his life, Jack accepted that cancer had won their battle and he chose to enjoy his remaining time peacefully.  He was able to participate in his own celebration of life. Friends and family called and visited, and he was deeply grateful for the time he had with those he loved.

Thank you for being part of Jack’s celebration of life.

Memorial Contributions

Jack and Jean were deeply passionate about education and the power of literacy to transform lives. In honor of Jack, memorial donations may be made to the following organizations:

Literacy for Life is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower adult learners by providing free, individualized literacy tutoring to improve reading, writing, and language skills. Its programs include one-on-one tutoring, job-readiness support, communication skills for navigating healthcare, and conversational English. Jack and Jean taught ESL classes and saw firsthand how literacy can open doors and change lives.

REACH for Uganda, founded in 2004, is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming rural communities in eastern Uganda through quality education, accessible healthcare, and sustainable community development. Jack and Jean began supporting REACH by sponsoring a child, Stuart, in 2004 and helped fund his education from primary school through medical school. Stuart became the first physician to come through the REACH program. Over the years, Jack and Jean also supported the growth of REACH by contributing financial support, guidance, and construction expertise to the building of a new high school.

After the high school was completed, Jack and Jean recognized the need for a library. Their vision and generosity helped make that dream possible, and the library will be named in their honor.

Please consider donating in memory of Jack Smith to Literacy for Life or a donation to REACH to support the Jack and Jean Smith Library Fund (the links are below).

Please sign the guest book and consider adding photos, along with a memory or story about Jack. We are gathering these to include in a book celebrating his life.