John Lee Smith, former associate director for studies at Cornell United Religious Work (CURW), developer of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy (now called the Center for Transformative Action) at Cornell and a former dean of students at the Cornell Law School, died at Cayuga Medical Center Sept. 27. He was 82.

Born in 1928 in Rockville, Conn., Smith graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin and obtained his Bachelor of Divinity from Yale University in 1952. He designed, built and presided over the Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin from 1952 to 1959.

In 1963, Smith and his growing family moved to Ithaca, where he worked for CURW. In the wake of Watergate, Smith was asked to join the Cornell Law School faculty to design and teach a new course in professional responsibility and ethics. Soon thereafter, he was appointed dean of students at the Law School, where he remained until his retirement.

Smith is survived by his wife of 57 years, Peggy; five children; grandchildren and other relatives.

Friends will gather at Bangs Funeral Home on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. There will be a memorial service at Cornell's Sage Chapel Monday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hospicare or the SPCA.