From Mater Dei to Russia By Mallory (Goebel) Hertel ‘07 Director of Advancement
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because he liked it so much. He would travel back and forth for medical visits Richard (Rick) Smith ’70 is hard to and to see family. Throughout the keep up with. Ever since graduating years, Rick still continued contact with high school, he has been on the move the Russian people from his workin some way, shape or form. Upon study program and Svetlana. Finally, graduation, Rick headed to the Navy in 2014 Rick made the permanent and not long after was drafted to move to Russia where he still lives to Vietnam. Post-Vietnam, he continued this day. This move influenced his his Naval career and spent some time next chapter in life. As previously in Hong Kong and Singapore. Once mentioned, Rick and Svetlana went he completed his time in the armed on to marry. Although retired, you services, Rick came home and attend- won’t find Rick just sitting around. He ed ISUE followed by IU and finally spends a lot of his time traveling. He rounded out his academic career at is often asked to speak at universities Cornell. across Russia. “I get asked to speak all the time—I haven’t taught a day Early in his career, Rick found himself in my life but my talks tend to always out on the East coast. Later in life as a go over well as these kids have never contractor in Nantucket, Rick partheard a real American speak.” When nered with a work-study group where asked if he considered himself fluent he first started his relationship and in Russian, Rick answers, “I can piece appreciation for the Russian culture. it together but I don’t think I’m very Russian students would come to the good.” US for this program and Rick would meet with them for lunch and they “Russians are great people; they’ve would exchange stories, he would seen everything. They have such help them work on their English, and resolve and they are tough. They are they would just enjoy each other’s just like the people here: they get up, company. After 3 months, they would get dressed, go to work, and take care leave and go back to Russia. They of their families. Family is everything. would tell their community about the Where I live now reminds me a lot of program and “some strange guy with Evansville. You wouldn’t know you all these stories.” One of the people were in Russia if the people weren’t they told was Svetlana. Svetlana is a talking. That and the architecture give scholar from Amhurst and Professor it away.” of English in Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia. She and Rick would eventually Because of Rick, Mater Dei has its own go on to be married in 2015. group of supporters on the other side of the globe in Pushkin, St. Petersburg, In 2012, Rick retired in Nantucket. Russia. “I still keep up with MD. I Not long after, he took off for England watched the state wrestling finals on as his first vacation spot post-retirethe internet. Of course it was the ment. He spent about a month there middle of the night because they are 9 and eventually bought a home there hours ahead of Evansville.”
Rick and classmates from 1970 catch up over breakfast.
Rick still makes his way back to Evansville about once a year to visit friends and family as his mom, son, and sister all still live in Evansville. You can find him occasionally grabbing breakfast with old 1970 classmates at Libby & Mom’s Café. He often takes his grandkids to school when he is in town and they lovingly refer to him as “Dedushka,” Russian for grandfather. When not catching up with family and friends during his visits, Rick enjoys walking the city and taking hundreds of pictures. “I walk 5-10 miles a day just taking it all in and observing what has changed.” Rick has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
Rick and friends in Russia cheer on the Wildcats
Rick and wife, Svetlana
