Legacies to remember: AFL ‘Giant’ Patrick Smith and Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman
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It is with great sadness that we reflect upon the passing of two notable individuals in sports and space exploration.
Patrick Smith, 71, a revered sports journalist, and Frank Borman, 95, an esteemed Apollo 8 astronaut, passed away last week.
The Australian sports journalism world is in mourning following the sudden death of the legendary Patrick Smith. Known as a 'giant' in the industry, Smith's passing has left a void in sports journalism that will be hard to fill.
Smith, a three-time Walkley Award winner, reportedly died of a sudden heart attack at his home in Sorrento last November 12.
Smith's illustrious career spanned almost five decades, during which he wrote about the Australian Football League (AFL), cricket, and athletics, among other sports, for various newspapers. He held various roles throughout his career, including sports sub-editor, deputy sports editor, and sports editor.
However, he is best remembered for his tenure as The Australian’s Chief Football Writer, where his sharp commentary and cold analysis earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and readers alike.
In addition to his print media contributions, Smith was also a longtime contributor to 1116 SEN, working alongside Richmond icon and good friend Kevin Bartlett on his show Hungry For Sport.
The combination of Smith and Bartlett for an hour of morning radio became the soundtrack of SEN for two decades, providing listeners with insightful and entertaining sports commentary.
The news of Smith's passing has left the Bartlett family devastated. Rhett Bartlett, Kevin’s son, expressed his family's grief, stating, 'My family and I are so sad at the passing of our dear close friend Patrick Smith. An incredibly skilled writer. Witty, generous and what a joy it was to hear him on the radio with Dad every morning back in the day. Condolences to Sue and family. We will love you forever.'
Smith's journalistic prowess was recognised multiple times throughout his career. His Walkley honours came in 1997, 2002, and 2004, and he was a regular award-winner at the AFL Media Awards. In 2021, Smith was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to print media as a journalist, a testament to his significant contributions to the industry.
The news of Smith's passing has sent shockwaves through the sports journalism community. Greg Baum, a longtime journalist at The Age, revealed his admiration for Smith, saying, 'I was a bit in awe of Pat Smith and his always strong views on sport and the clear, unflinching and often original ways he articulated them. He was also the best copy editor I worked with.’
‘I will be forever grateful to him for giving me a job at The Age. He will be missed. RIP,' he added.
Rohan Connolly, another veteran of AFL journalism, added, 'Sad day for sports journalism in Australia with the passing of Patrick Smith. A fearless columnist and great sports editor, he got me aboard at The Age, gave me every opportunity to write footy, and was a terrific sounding board. Vale Patrick, I’m forever grateful to have known you.'
Daniel Harford, a former Hawthorn and Carlton player and Blues AFL Women’s coach who worked with Smith at SEN, described him as a 'giant of a journalist' and a 'tremendous ally'. He said, 'His words were nuanced weapons. A delight to consume. And his Monday mornings with KB were compulsory listening. Vale.'
Craig Hutchison, CEO of SEN, also offered his condolences, saying, 'Saddened to learn of the passing of Patrick Smith. Fearless, brilliant and witty; respected as much as anyone ever in sports journalism. Must reading—and a great radio presence. A true family man, he will be sadly missed. The team at @SportsEntNet @1116sen sends its thoughts to wife Sue and family.'
Patrick Smith is survived by his wife, Sue, son Damien, daughter Nicola, and four grandchildren. May he rest in peace.
In similar news, Frank Borman, the astronaut who commanded the historic Apollo 8 mission that first orbited the moon, passed away last November 7.
On December 21, 1968, Borman, along with James Lovell and William Anders, embarked on the mission and spent three days travelling to the moon, entering lunar orbit on Christmas Eve. They circled the moon ten times between December 24 and 25 before returning to Earth on December 27.
During their lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, the astronauts read from the Book of Genesis in a live telecast from the orbiter. Borman concluded the broadcast with a heartfelt message, 'And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth.'
During the crew's fourth orbit, Anders captured the iconic Earthrise photo, showing a blue and white Earth rising above the grey lunar landscape. Borman described the sight of Earth from afar in his memoir, Countdown: An Autobiography.
‘We were the first humans to see the world in its majestic totality, an intensely emotional experience for each of us. We said nothing to each other, but I was sure our thoughts were identical—of our families on that spinning globe,’ he wrote.
He added: ‘And maybe we shared another thought I had, “This must be what God sees”.’
More than that, their contributions paved the way for the 1969 lunar landing.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Bill Nelson paid tribute to the notable astronaut in a statement.
‘Today we remember one of NASA's best [...] His lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife Susan,’ he said.
Borman's life was not just about space and aviation. He married his high school sweetheart, Susan Bugbee, who passed away in 2021. After leaving Eastern Airlines, Borman moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he started a cattle ranch with his son. He is survived by his sons Fred and Edwin and their families.
Frank Borman's passing is a reminder of the courage and determination of the early astronauts who dared to venture into the unknown. His contributions to space exploration will forever be remembered, and his legacy will continue to inspire future explorers.
You can listen to Borman’s Apollo 8 Book of Genesis Reading below:
Their contributions to their respective fields will be deeply missed, and their legacies will be remembered for years to come. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.
Patrick Smith, 71, a revered sports journalist, and Frank Borman, 95, an esteemed Apollo 8 astronaut, passed away last week.
The Australian sports journalism world is in mourning following the sudden death of the legendary Patrick Smith. Known as a 'giant' in the industry, Smith's passing has left a void in sports journalism that will be hard to fill.
Smith, a three-time Walkley Award winner, reportedly died of a sudden heart attack at his home in Sorrento last November 12.
Patrick Smith passed away last November 12. Credit: @HarfSerious/X (Twitter)
Smith's illustrious career spanned almost five decades, during which he wrote about the Australian Football League (AFL), cricket, and athletics, among other sports, for various newspapers. He held various roles throughout his career, including sports sub-editor, deputy sports editor, and sports editor.
However, he is best remembered for his tenure as The Australian’s Chief Football Writer, where his sharp commentary and cold analysis earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and readers alike.
In addition to his print media contributions, Smith was also a longtime contributor to 1116 SEN, working alongside Richmond icon and good friend Kevin Bartlett on his show Hungry For Sport.
The combination of Smith and Bartlett for an hour of morning radio became the soundtrack of SEN for two decades, providing listeners with insightful and entertaining sports commentary.
The news of Smith's passing has left the Bartlett family devastated. Rhett Bartlett, Kevin’s son, expressed his family's grief, stating, 'My family and I are so sad at the passing of our dear close friend Patrick Smith. An incredibly skilled writer. Witty, generous and what a joy it was to hear him on the radio with Dad every morning back in the day. Condolences to Sue and family. We will love you forever.'
Smith's journalistic prowess was recognised multiple times throughout his career. His Walkley honours came in 1997, 2002, and 2004, and he was a regular award-winner at the AFL Media Awards. In 2021, Smith was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to print media as a journalist, a testament to his significant contributions to the industry.
The news of Smith's passing has sent shockwaves through the sports journalism community. Greg Baum, a longtime journalist at The Age, revealed his admiration for Smith, saying, 'I was a bit in awe of Pat Smith and his always strong views on sport and the clear, unflinching and often original ways he articulated them. He was also the best copy editor I worked with.’
‘I will be forever grateful to him for giving me a job at The Age. He will be missed. RIP,' he added.
Rohan Connolly, another veteran of AFL journalism, added, 'Sad day for sports journalism in Australia with the passing of Patrick Smith. A fearless columnist and great sports editor, he got me aboard at The Age, gave me every opportunity to write footy, and was a terrific sounding board. Vale Patrick, I’m forever grateful to have known you.'
Daniel Harford, a former Hawthorn and Carlton player and Blues AFL Women’s coach who worked with Smith at SEN, described him as a 'giant of a journalist' and a 'tremendous ally'. He said, 'His words were nuanced weapons. A delight to consume. And his Monday mornings with KB were compulsory listening. Vale.'
Craig Hutchison, CEO of SEN, also offered his condolences, saying, 'Saddened to learn of the passing of Patrick Smith. Fearless, brilliant and witty; respected as much as anyone ever in sports journalism. Must reading—and a great radio presence. A true family man, he will be sadly missed. The team at @SportsEntNet @1116sen sends its thoughts to wife Sue and family.'
Patrick Smith is survived by his wife, Sue, son Damien, daughter Nicola, and four grandchildren. May he rest in peace.
In similar news, Frank Borman, the astronaut who commanded the historic Apollo 8 mission that first orbited the moon, passed away last November 7.
On December 21, 1968, Borman, along with James Lovell and William Anders, embarked on the mission and spent three days travelling to the moon, entering lunar orbit on Christmas Eve. They circled the moon ten times between December 24 and 25 before returning to Earth on December 27.
Frank Borman passed away last November 7. Credit: @BeschlossDC/X (Twitter)
During their lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, the astronauts read from the Book of Genesis in a live telecast from the orbiter. Borman concluded the broadcast with a heartfelt message, 'And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth.'
During the crew's fourth orbit, Anders captured the iconic Earthrise photo, showing a blue and white Earth rising above the grey lunar landscape. Borman described the sight of Earth from afar in his memoir, Countdown: An Autobiography.
‘We were the first humans to see the world in its majestic totality, an intensely emotional experience for each of us. We said nothing to each other, but I was sure our thoughts were identical—of our families on that spinning globe,’ he wrote.
He added: ‘And maybe we shared another thought I had, “This must be what God sees”.’
More than that, their contributions paved the way for the 1969 lunar landing.
Apollo 8: Earthrise was taken during the Apollo 8 mission. Credit: NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Bill Nelson paid tribute to the notable astronaut in a statement.
‘Today we remember one of NASA's best [...] His lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife Susan,’ he said.
Borman's life was not just about space and aviation. He married his high school sweetheart, Susan Bugbee, who passed away in 2021. After leaving Eastern Airlines, Borman moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he started a cattle ranch with his son. He is survived by his sons Fred and Edwin and their families.
Frank Borman's passing is a reminder of the courage and determination of the early astronauts who dared to venture into the unknown. His contributions to space exploration will forever be remembered, and his legacy will continue to inspire future explorers.
You can listen to Borman’s Apollo 8 Book of Genesis Reading below:
Their contributions to their respective fields will be deeply missed, and their legacies will be remembered for years to come. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.
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