Obituary — Jonathan Smith
1973 — 2021
His love for the sea stemmed from a long lineage of Smith patriarchs who had an intimate relationship with seafaring and all things nautical.
From the moment he discovered the mystery of the deep blue to when he was laid to rest, “Skipper” as the late Captain Jonathan Smith was fondly known, was the epitome of an “old salt” says his brother Wallace Smith.
His voyages on the traditional sea-going canoe Uto Ni Yalo from 2010 to 2012 were in some ways an opportunity for Skipper to revisit the challenges and difficulties his forefathers faced when they battled the elements on the great sea journeys they took.
He was a fourth-generation captain. His great-grandfather, Captain Joseph Smith sailed to Fiji from England in the early 1900s and married Florence Mitchel of Qamea.
Skipper, as he was affectionately known, was born on August 23, 1973, to Fredrick George Smith and Stella Alexandra Louise Smith nee O’Connor.
He was the eldest of five children including Wallace, Floyd, Leeanne and Reona and had links to Lovoni, Taveuni, Kadavu and Levuka
Wallace said Skipper was educated at Veiuto Primary School, Suva, and Drasa Avenue School and Natabua High School in Lautoka.
Before he earned his stripes as a captain, he had a lot of leadership practice with his siblings.
He said before their parents would go to choir practice on Saturday morning, the Smith siblings would be given instructions on the chores they were supposed to do.
“Skipper would change it around and reassign everyone,” he said.
“But no matter what, the house was always spotless before mum and dad got home.” Their father was a mechanic and operated Smiths Automotive Services, a garage in Lautoka.
Skipper, however, decided on a different path and took to the sea.
Wallace said it was “just something that was always in his blood”.
“He was always drawn to the sea from when he was born.
“We the siblings have all gone into our own fields, but that was always his calling. “The sea speaks to everyone differently, and it definitely called Johnathan.”
As a brother, he said Skipper could be “a hard case” but he always cared for his family and no problem lasted more than a day.
Skipper’s love for his family was also reflected in the love he had for his friends and the many relationships he formed with the people he crossed paths with. His close friend, Aman Ravindra-Singh, said he remembered him as “a jovial and positive person from high school.
“He always got on with others – new and old – and was always prepared to help anyone and everyone,” he said.