Steven Kurt Goldsmith, of Sherman, passed away on July 21, 2026, of complications from a brain tumor. Steve was a professor of biology at Austin College for more than 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Becky; siblings Charles and Jane; sons Chris and Jeff; three grandchildren; and numerous colleagues and former students. He will be missed.

Steve was born December 3, 1955, in Tulsa, OK, to Edith and Craig Goldsmith; he grew up in Oklahoma City. As a teenager and young adult, he was an ironworker for his father’s construction business. He often claimed, in this role, to have driven a 2.5-ton winch truck through an opening narrower than the truck itself; while this story has never been independently verified, it does seem like something Steve plausibly could and would have done.

Steve attended the University of Oklahoma, first as an undergraduate and then as a masters student. It was here that his first connection to Austin College was made, in the person of Dr. Bedford Vestal (’64), a professor and mentor who recommended that Steve spend a few summers at the OU Biological Station on Lake Texoma. He was there as an undergraduate in 1977 and ’78, and again as a masters student in 1980 and ’81, working with Dr. Chuck Carpenter; these latter years, he was also a TA at the Station for Howard McCarley (’48), professor of biology at Austin College. Steve was one of the only people to impress Howard enough to be asked to TA a second time.

After completing his MS degree, Steve and Becky moved to Mesa, AZ, where he completed a PhD in Zoology & Behavioral Ecology at the University of Arizona. Sons Chris and Jeff were both born during this period. For the 1985-86 academic year, the newly minted Dr. Goldsmith was hired as a visiting assistant professor at Austin College. From 1986 to 1993, Steve was a visiting professor at the University of Tulsa, and Director of Undergraduate Advising for four years. In the fall of 1993, Steve and family returned to Sherman, and Steve rejoined the faculty at Austin College, first as a visiting professor before being hired on a permanent basis. He was promoted to full professor in 2007.

During his time at Austin College, Steve was the Biology Department chair before serving as Dean of Sciences for 14 years, making him one of the college’s longest-serving academic leaders. As Dean, he played a vital role in recruiting and mentoring many faculty members, guiding numerous tenure and promotion decisions, supporting the development of new academic programs, and helping secure millions in grant funding. He played an important role in the construction of a new science building, earning him the title “Mayor of the IDEA Center.” Steve also taught and mentored thousands of students over his 30+ years, introducing them to the joys and frustrations of field biology with trips to sites such as Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Pennington Creek, and Denison Dam. Starting in 1999, Steve offered a January term course called “Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands,” introducing many dozens of students to the wonders of that island ecosystem. In recognition of his numerous contributions to the college, Steve received the Homer P. Rainey Award, one of Austin College’s most meaningful honors, at his retirement this spring. Colleagues described him as supportive, kind, and unflappable; always willing to lend a hand with problems large or small, or share advice or expertise; happy to go for an adventure; and deserving of recognition, but not one to seek it out.

In February 2026, an MRI showed a mass in Steve’s brain that turned out to be a stage IV glioblastoma. He had surgery in early March to remove some of the tumor but was not a candidate for chemotherapy or radiation. He spent his final months at home. While the tumor impacted his movement and speech, Steve remained himself and cognizant of his surroundings until slipping into a coma a few days before his death.

After his diagnosis, colleagues in the Biology department solicited letters from current and former students to assemble into a notebook for Steve and Becky. Hundreds were submitted, and more came directly to the house, attesting to how beloved and impactful Steve was as a professor and mentor. He had high standards for his students but gave them the tools they needed to succeed; he strove to be an engaging and encouraging teacher. He was always happy to share a story or a joke, and was in the habit of playing music before class (sometimes supplementing the classroom audio system with a subwoofer he kept in his office). He may be gone, but his memory and impact will continue in the many lives he touched.

A memorial service will be held on September 15, 2026, at 4:30p, in Wynne Chapel at Austin College. Dress code is casual—Hawaiian shirts welcome—and the atmosphere will be celebratory. A reception will follow in the IDEA Center.