Nazaire Joseph “Joel” Smith, 92

Nazaire Joseph “Joel” Smith, 92, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away surrounded by his family, on Oct. 25, 2024. 

Joel was born in Lewistown, Mont., to Nazaire Joseph Smith, Sr., a Boulder native, and Anna Laura McVeda, on May 29, 1932. He grew up in Portland, Ore. and attended St. Ignatius Catholic grade school and Central Catholic High School, before attending Seattle University. He transferred to University of Washington to pursue a degree in business administration, where he met Carol Allen, his wife of 67 years. 

Upon graduation he joined the Army during the Korean War Conflict, and was stationed in France. After the war, he came back to Seattle and married Carol on June 1, 1957. He was accepted into the International Bank Training program for First National City Bank of New York (now Citibank) in New York City. Joel was assigned to the bank’s branch in Hong Kong, from which he and Carol moved to Manila, Philippines.