A graduate of New Canaan High School, Chef earned his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in 1990 in mathematics. Chef was a member of the first Teach for America Corps trained to teach in underserved public schools. Assigned to a rural high school in Dublin, Georgia, Chef developed a love for teaching and working with students. After serving his two-year commitment to Teach for America, he attended graduate school and completed his master’s degree in mathematics at Duke University in 1994.
Chef continued teaching in Jackson, Georgia, then at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. For several years, he taught math at Bowdoin College’s Upward Bound, a summer program to assist high school students who are the first generation in their family to graduate from college. At Upward Bound he met his spouse, Susan, and they later wed in
June 2000.
Chef had a lifelong passion for the outdoors and enjoyed summers in Maine with his family. He also played the piano and trombone for many years as music had great meaning for him.
In addition to his wife, children, and mother, Chef is also survived by his sister, Margarita Whiteleather, his brother, Douglas Smith, and their families.
Relatives and friends are invited to a celebration of life service to be held at 1 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 North Valley Forge Road, Devon, Pennsylvania 19333. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Penn Brain Tumor Program, Abramson Cancer Center, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Checks can be written to the Trustees of University of Pennsylvania. Please include Brain Tumor Trust Gift Fund on the memo line.
Arrangements are with Alleva Funeral Home, Inc., Paoli, PA.
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