Ms. Ragnhild “Roddy” Vassallo Smith

Ms. Ragnhild “Roddy” Vassallo Smith

Ms. Ragnhild “Roddy” Vassallo Smith, daughter of the late Ragnhild Nielsen and Andrew Vassallo died on Sept. 24 in Kalispell, Montana, with her family by her side. Roddy was born April 18, 1929, at home, in Ardmore, Penn. She attended school in the Lower Merion School District and graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1947. She grew up attending St. Colman’s Catholic Church in Ardmore, Penn.

Roddy was actively involved in The Penn Valley Women’s Club, The Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church of Gladwyne, where she attended for her adult life, as well as serving on the PTA of Lower Merion schools where her children attended. Roddy’s marriage to C. Warner Smith ended in divorce. Roddy worked as a Teacher’s Aid in Special Education in Penn Valley Elementary School, Penn Wynne, and the Merion Elementary School.  Roddy’s depth of care and commitment enhanced her students’ lives. Roddy loved to travel, visiting many of the Unites States as well as many countries in Western Europe. She had a passion for art and acquired a lovely collection of Philadelphia-area artist paintings.

Her beautiful and inspiring life impacted all who knew her and will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Richard Andrew (Sarah Beck) Smith of Polson, Deborah Newlin Smith of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Amy Smith (Fred) Kellogg of Kalispell; and her 10 beloved grandchildren, as well as her close friend, Hal Kirn. She is predeceased by her brother, Edward Vallasso and sisters, Francis Powers and Carmen “Sis” Thoring and her longtime companion, Alex Baer.

Roddy, a breast cancer survivor, active in the Reach for Recovery, received the 2002 Southeast Pennsylvania Region’s Volunteer Achievement Award. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.