Terry Smith, Petaluma Post publisher, dies at 73

Terry Smith, publisher of the Petaluma Post, died on Sept. 22 at the age of 73.

A talented writer, photographer and videographer, he co-founded Multimedia in Minneapolis in his home state of Minnesota, where he produced sales conventions and other events for many large corporations. As co-owner of Go Diving, he led guided scuba diving trips to locations all over the world.

Born July 5, 1943 in Minneapolis to Philip H. and Gladys Smith, he grew up in Edina, MN, attended Stanford University, and did graduate work in photography at the University of Minnesota. Smith raised his children in Mound, MN on Lake Minnetonka with his former wife, Connie Campbell.

In 1995, Smith moved to California to marry his college sweetheart, Karen Phillips. Living first in Claremont and then Pasadena, Smith continued his work as a professional photographer and found a new vocation restoring vintage bungalows.

In 2004, he moved to Petaluma to become the editor and publisher of the Petaluma Post, a free monthly newspaper. He quickly became an integral part of the Petaluma community and was always generous with his time and talents. Through the Post, Smith promoted local arts and community events and encouraged local writers to contribute columns. He was active in the Downtown Association and edited the city’s Sesquicentennial Celebration book.

Smith suffered a stroke in 2009 and, despite the many health challenges he faced after that, he continued to publish The Petaluma Post for the next seven years until its “Goodbye” issue in June 2016.

He is survived by his wife Karen; daughters Amy Cara and Poco Kernsmith; stepchildren Alexander Phillips, Jennifer Tampoya, and Matthew Miller; grandchildren Jivan, Owen, Sahalie, John Connor, Rylan, Gabriel, Isaiah, Montoya, and Grace; brothers-in-law Greg and Brad and their wives, Marcela and Molly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Sunrise of Petaluma, 815 Wood Sorrel Drive in Petaluma.

The family has established the Terry C. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, through which an annual scholarship will be awarded to a student who shows talent in photography or writing. In lieu of flowers, donations to the scholarship fund may be sent to: Bank of the West, 20 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma, CA 94952, Attention: Terry C. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund.