Joachim Smet Obituary

Father Jo visited new Baltimore in 66-67 and shared memories with us

It happens that he was a friend of my father at Niagara when they were both seminarians

I remember him as a great person

Joe herrmann

I knew of Father Joachim from my high school days at Niagara, and learned more of him through Fr Gervase, who was the librarian at Mount Carmel when I was a college student. Everyone talked of the amazing work he was doing to tell the story of the Carmelites without the embellishments of mythical/fictional elements. When I arrived at Whitefriars Hall I was appointed to serve as the librarian of the tiny Carmelite library tucked into an oversize closet on the hall across from the priests's recreation room. With the help of Chet Delaney, we convinced the faculty to move the library from the closet to a separate room in the basement of the Hall. Once there we were able to expand the space, and therefore the collection. Throughout the time I served I received packages of books from Fr Joachim in Rome, and we exchanged some letters. He fostered my interest in Carmelite history and made me appreciate the breadth of Carmelite literature...Many years later I served with him on the faculty at Mount Carmel College during the fateful year of the fire. There I discovered what a charming and happy colleague he was....Many years later my wife and I shared a wonderful dinner with him and Fr John Malley at a restaurant in Trastevere. The evening was memorable for the conversation and the laughter, but also because Jo arrived at the restaurant on a bicycle. Did I tell you that I once saw him watching a movie on TV while standing on his head. A brilliant scholar, a masterful collector of Carmelitana, with the freedom and joy of St Francis.

Fr. Joachim Smit will alway6s be remembered as a awesome assistant while doing research at the White Friars Library in Washington, will always remember his words of encouragement.
Deacon Dave Shapiro

Fr. Joachim was a Carmelite legend. All of the Mariani and Fraters that were privileged to live and study Carmelite life revered him - Scolaro. Poeta. Sacerdote.

His personal kindness to me in Rome stays in my mind as typical of his very generous spirit. What a great gift he was to our Province.

A very gifted man, full of non-stop human scholarly endeavor and divinely inspired purpose. A Renaissance man living in the Post-Modern era!

Monk, Scholar, Historian, Priest.

One-of-a-kind Exemplar of all that was good in an age almost forgotten but always will be remembered.

Truly the last of a breed of unconventional intellectuals and uncommon men. May he rest in peace.

Dear Fr. Gavin and the other Carmelites at the National Shrine at Darian and Niagara: Please accept my condolences on the passing of Fr. Joachim.