Vernon F. Smith
December 7, 1943 - July 29, 2023
Vernon F. Smith, retired judge of the Marin County Superior Court, passed away peacefully at home on July 29, 2023 after a short illness. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda (Pollard), his sons Brent (Ann) and Ryan (Tara), daughter Claire Dean (Rich), four grandchildren Kayleigh, Molly, Quincy, and Mac and his in-laws Larry and Dorthy Hollomon. Vern was predeceased by his parents Vernon F. Smith Sr. and Sylvia (Rossi) and his sister Patricia.
Vern was born December 7, 1943 in San Francisco attending Star of the Sea School. His family moved to Sleepy Hollow in his teens where he was a student at Sir Francis Drake High School (’61). Vern earned his college and law degrees at the University of San Francisco (’68). Upon graduation and passing the bar, he started his legal career with the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. After 5 years he joined an established Novato law firm, later named Trumbull, Rush & Smith. He was the firm’s trial attorney handling both criminal and civil cases. In 1982, Vern was selected to serve as Marin County’s Court Commissioner where he would remain until he was elected judge to the Municipal Court in 1987. Vern was elected as Superior Court Judge and with the consolidation of the Marin County Superior Court he became its first Presiding Judge. He continued to sit as a Superior Court Judge until he retired in 2007, serving 25 years on the bench.
Upon retirement, Vern enjoyed traveling with his wife, playing Papa to his grandchildren, golfing, cheering on his beloved Warriors, Giants, 49ers and San Marin High Mustangs, lunching with endless friends and colleagues, mediating for Resolution Remedies, and spending family time at his mountain cabin.
To know Vern was to love Vern. His kindness, humor, loyalty, and moral sense endeared him to all. He will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him.
Services will be held Sunday, August 27, 2023, 1pm, at the Jonas Center located at 1800 Ignacio Blvd on College of Marin’s Indian Valley Campus in Novato. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to northmarincs.org or kerryskids.org.