Notable people · Medicine
Robert H. Smith (Dr. Bob)
Vermont-born Akron surgeon who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson; 10 June 1935 is celebrated as AA's founding date. He died in Akron and is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery.
At a glance
- Born
- 1879-08-08
- Died
- 1950-11-16
- Education
- St. Johnsbury Academy, St. Johnsbury, VT, to 1898
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, to 1902, A.B.
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, attended
- Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, M.D.
- Known as
- Medicine
- Organizations
- Alcoholics Anonymous
Life story
Robert Smith was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1879 and finished at St. Johnsbury Academy in 1898. He studied at Dartmouth College (A.B. 1902) and then medicine at the University of Michigan and Rush Medical College. He worked in hardware sales in several cities before finishing his medical training.
He married Anne Ripley in January 1915 and opened a medical practice in Akron the same year. For years he struggled with heavy drinking, which continued through the Prohibition era.
On May 12, 1935, he met Bill Wilson in Akron. Smith took his last drink on June 10, 1935, a date AA marks as its founding. Over the next fifteen years he is said to have helped more than 5,000 alcoholics.
He died of colon cancer in Akron on November 16, 1950, and is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery. His house on Ardmore Avenue is open as a museum.
Timeline
- 1879-08-08: Born (St. Johnsbury, VT) source
- 1898: Graduates St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury, VT) source
- 1902: Graduates Dartmouth (A.B.) (Hanover, NH) source
- 1915-01-25: Marries Anne Robinson Ripley (Vermont/US) source
- 1915: Opens medical practice (Akron, OH) source
- 1935-05-12: Meets Bill Wilson (Akron, OH) source
- 1935-06-10: Takes his last drink; date celebrated as AA's founding (Akron, OH) source
- 1949: Wife Anne dies (Akron, OH) source
- 1950-11-16: Dies of colon cancer (Akron, OH) source
What Robert is known for
- Co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous 1935
- Met Bill Wilson 12 May 1935 in Akron
- Co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, 1935
Inventions and firsts
- Alcoholics Anonymous founded (1935)
Honors and things named for them
- Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous
- Called the 'Prince of Twelfth Steppers' by Bill Wilson
- Dr. Bob's Home, Akron, preserved as a museum
Family
- wife: Anne Robinson Ripley Smith
Places in Ohio to see
- Dr. Bob's Home (home)
855 Ardmore Ave, Akron, Summit County ZIP 44302 · Akron · Summit County · official page - Mount Peace Cemetery (grave) (grave)
Akron, Summit County ZIP 44310 (approximate) · Akron · Summit County
Ohio places
Where Robert H. Smith (Dr. Bob) was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Lived: Akron, Summit County (855 Ardmore Ave (Dr. Bob's Home; address from prior knowledge)) ZIP 44302 · Akron · Summit County
- Buried: Akron (Mount Peace Cemetery), Summit County ZIP 44310 · Akron · Summit County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Bob Smith (doctor) (Wikipedia) dates, St. Johnsbury VT, founding 10 Jun 1935, Mount Peace Cemetery Akron