Smit, 75, Was Only Prof to Teach Four Main Core Classes

Correction Appended.

Professor J. W. Smit, a Renaissance historian and the only person to teach all four Core Curriculum classes, died of heart failure in July. He was 75.

Smit began his career at Columbia in 1965, when he was appointed as the Queen Wilhelmina professor of history. But 40 years, three awards, and eight years as Contemporary Civilization chair show Smit's biggest contribution to the University: his support of Columbia's bedrock curriculum.

"He was a great believer in the Core," said James Mirollo, Parr professor emeritus of English and comparative literature, who served as chair of Literature Humanities while Smit was chair of CC. "He was worried about it. He thought it wasn't going to hold up."

He had reason to be nervous. After the protests of the 1960s, the Core was "in shambles," according to Professor Michael Rosenthal, who was the associate dean of the English department at the time. Though Smit had no prior experience teaching CC, he was chosen to help redevelop its curriculum in 1972.

"It is most unusual to have a left-wing European national interested in something as peculiar as the Core Curriculum," Rosenthal said. "But he became the embodiment of the Core."

Smit went on to teach CC, Lit Hum, Music Hum, and Art Hum-the only professor ever to have done so.

He also served as chair of the CC program from 1978 to 1982 and again from 1989 to 1992. He was a member of the Columbia College Commission on the Core during the 1988-'89 school year and became the first chairman of the standing committee on the Core in 1990.

His interests were wide and varied. He earned his undergraduate degree and doctorate from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, specializing in 17th and 18th century Dutch history. He was also a distinguished piano player, dancer, and cook, according to Mark L. Von Hagen, Boris Bakhmeteff professor of Russian and East European studies and chair of the history department.

Though Smit was officially retired from Columbia, he continued to teach Core classes. He had planned to teach Nobility and Civility this semester.

"Teaching was his piece de resistance," Mirollo said. "He knew everything about everything."

There will be a memorial service in his honor on Monday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. in St. Paul's Chapel.

Correction: "Smit, 75, Was Only Prof to Teach Four Main Core Classes" (Sept. 15) incorrectly stated that professor J.W. Smit was the only professor to teach all four Core Curriculum classes.