Jack Smith: A Permanent Legacy, April 6, 2026

Dear friends,

REACH for Uganda has lost a very special friend. On April 5th, 2026, Jack Smith, an engineer and visionary, passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria, VA after a long battle with cancer. There are not enough words to describe what Jack and his wife Jean have meant to us. We knew Jack and Jean from our friends and REACH board members Holly Hawthorne and her husband Dean Scribner. Jack and Holly and Holly's brother Randy and his wife Shelby grew up in the same neighborhood in Arlington in the 1960s, went to the same elementary school, and have remained close friends all these decades. When Holly joined the board of REACH for Uganda, she shared with Jack and Jean about the work of REACH for Uganda and what it meant for the kids of Uganda. Jack and Jean became one of our early child sponsors, supporting a kid named Stuart Kitandwe all the way from primary school, high school and into medical school. Stuart became the first medical doctor from the REACH program, and now works in the Uganda Ministry of Defense providing medical services at some of Uganda’s most coveted military facilities. Jack’s legacy however extends far beyond Stuart. Jack and Jean were early supporters of the construction of the Hawthorne-Scribner High School (HSHS) in Bududa, providing not just financial resources but dispensing advice, encouragement, and when funding from USAID stopped, providing critical bridging support that allowed us to complete phase one of construction. They also contributed funds to allow us buy critical resources so the school could open. A hall at the school is already named after Jack and Jean Smith in appreciation of their tremendous support.

After the successful opening of the school, Jack and Jean’s interest turned to supporting the school establish a library. In the early days of the school, one classroom was turned into a makeshift library, but within a short time, it became too small for the 150 students who needed to use it every day. We moved the library services to a larger room in the Science and Technology building. But even then, as the school has grown, this space has become insufficient. Our goal now is to build a separate library building that can also accommodate administrative offices. This building will be named after Jack and Jean in appreciation of the tremendous support they have provided. Located at the front of the HSHS campus, the Jack and Jean Smith Library and Admin building will be the place of welcome for all those visiting and studying at HSHS. It will reflect the glory of the new school, its architecture, its colors, and its setting. The building will be a symbol of change, reflecting grandeur, innovation, and the promise that HSHS brings.

Jack and Jean have already provided some initial support towards construction of this building. Any contributions received in memory of Jack will go towards construction of this library building. This will be a symbol and legacy that Jack leaves to the world, and where his memory will be honored forever.  We thank you for honoring Jack’s legacy through your contribution, and proud that you are partners with us in making this happen.

 You can donate online here to honor Jack  or  write a check payable to

REACH for Uganda - ( memo- Jack and Jean Smith Library Fund) and mail to

REACH for Uganda

PO. BOX 101383

Arlington, VA 22210.

Consider other ways to donate in honor of Jack's memory without fees here.

https://reachforuganda.org/donate/waystodonate/