Copley Hillman Smoak

Copley Hillman Smoak, 92, of Bonita Springs, Florida, passed away on December 8, 2025 at home. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, stepfather, step-grandfather, and friend, and his presence will be deeply missed. He was a lifelong outdoorsman, environmentalist, scientist, and adventurer. Known to many as Cope, he was born in Columbia, South Carolina, March 13, 1933. He went beyond Eagle Scout and achieved Order of the Arrow, which scored him and his best friend as the highest decorated Boy Scouts in South Carolina. Cope was a graduate of University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955. He served as Lieutenant JG for four years in the Navy, after which he obtained his Master of Science, with focus on freshwater biology, from the University of South Carolina. His career spanned 30 years with IBM before retiring at age 55. In his active retirement, he became an ultramarathon runner, a triathlete, and obtained a copyright for his Omnirod invention. In his later years, he was involved with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida where he researched and co-authored a published scientific paper on Florida’s invasive Mayan Cichlid. He was also a highly regarded volunteer ranger for the Calusa Waterkeeper: Southwest Florida Water Quality. Cope was predeceased by his parents Copley Hillman Smoak Sr and Clara Siegler, infant son Stephen Smoak, and brother Curtis Smoak. He is survived by his sister Cecil Rucker, first wife Julie Petoskey Smoak, his son Copley Hillman (Stoney) Smoak III, his daughter Carolina Smoak and her husband Matt Stone and granddaughters Hannah and Hailee Stone, and his son Cantey Smoak. He is also survived by his second wife and rekindled love from his youth, Mary Alice Brown Baranski Smoak, and his stepchildren Catherine Jones (husband George and her children Eric, Meagan, and Devinne), Robert Baranski (wife Janell and daughter Cory), David Baranski (children Andrew and Anna), Steven Baranski (wife Lisa and daughter Brooke), and Carolyn Linn (husband Jeff and son Reilly). A celebration of Life for Copley Smoak will be held on March 13, 2026, at Spring Creek Village Clubhouse, Bonita Springs, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Calusa Waterkeeper organization.

Copley Hillman Smoak

March 13, 1933 - December 8, 2025