Funk Band Founder From Ridgewood And Brown University Has Died At 51

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Despite the fact that he was legally blind, Ridgewood High School class of '93 graduate Chris Smith boasted a wide range of accomplishments throughout his life, including starting a funk rock band at Brown University.

He died last month at 51.

Smith played basketball, ran cross-country, and founded a band in college called "Smit-Haus" that performed across the country, his obituary said. "Thanks for teaching us all to see a little better, Chris," his family wrote. Read the obituary here.