Pamela Jo Smith

Background: Pamela “Pam” Smith’s life was defined by an unwavering curiosity, tireless determination, and a genuine passion for helping others—qualities that shaped her journey from a gifted student to a respected professional and beloved friend. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1945, Pam moved with her family to San Bruno, California, where she excelled in school from an early age. At Capuchino High School, she stood out not only for her academic achievements—making the Dean’s List each year and earning lifetime membership in the California Scholarship Federation—but also for her love of the sciences, especially chemistry and biology.

In 1963, Pam brought her ambition and bright spirit to San José State University, where she majored in Physical Therapy and minored in Psychology. It was at SJSU that she formed a lifelong bond with her faculty advisor and mentor, Dr. Patricia L. Grilione, whose guidance and friendship would remain a source of strength and inspiration throughout Pam’s life. Her dedication to her studies was evident in her every achievement, from her place on the Dean’s List each year to the Citation of Excellence awarded by the Dean of the School of Applied Sciences and Arts. When she graduated “With Great Distinction,” she was one of only fourteen students in her class of over five hundred to receive that honor. It was also at SJSU that Pam met
Fred Smith, her future husband, forging a partnership rooted in shared memories of their Spartan years.

After graduation, Pam carried her trademark determination into a successful business career. She became the only woman project manager at Knoll Construction, where she oversaw major projects that helped shape the Seattle area, including The Inn at the Market in Pike Place and the Knoll Center Bellevue, a landmark 27-story tower. To excel alongside her engineering-trained peers, she took night classes in construction and blueprint reading—proof of her relentless
commitment to doing her best work. Later in life, Pam returned to her original calling: caring for people. She earned her certification in therapeutic massage, opened her own practice, and spent two decades helping clients find relief from pain and stress—work she often described as the most rewarding of her life.

Pamela Smith’s legacy is one of quiet perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and compassion for others. By naming this classroom in her honor, her friends and loved ones hope that every student who studies here is inspired to pursue their passions as fearlessly and wholeheartedly as she did—and to remember that the friendships and knowledge found at SJSU can shape a lifetime.

Made in Recognition of Pamela Jo Smith by Pamela’s husband Fred Smith (Business ‘71)

Spartan Daily Reference of Pat on the Women’s Week Activities Panel Event:
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5450&context=spartandaily