About the Smith Chapel
The
multi-faith chapel at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, is a gift of
Larry and Kathryn Smith, longtime friends of the college and its
students. Larry Smith is the president and owner of Automation Devices,
Incorporated, in Fairview, Pa. The Smiths faced illness and tragedy in
their lives, and they felt that God had carried them through troubled
times. In gratitude for such grace, they provided funds to build a place
of worship for the students at Penn State Erie.
The bell tower and carillon is the
gift of the late Floyd and Juanita Smith, parents of Larry Smith. On one
of Floyd Smith’s visits to Penn State Erie, he asked Provost and Dean
John Lilley where to find the bell tower. When John replied that Behrend
didn’t have one, Floyd remarked, “Every University needs a bell
tower!” At the time of his death, Floyd designated funds that were
later used to build the bell tower and carillon.
As the chapel began to take shape,
Larry and Kathryn Smith also felt that an organ would add to the
spiritual impact of worship there. They gave a custom-made mechanical
tracker pipe organ in honor of their daughter, Colleen, and their son,
Kevin.