Robert N. Goldsmith, 79, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Saturday, May 28, 2011, in Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine. He was born August 28, 1931, the son of the late Huston L. and Donna M. (Hurley) Goldschmidt.

He is survived by a sister, Barbara Goldsmith Powell of Bellefontaine; four nieces, Teri (Doug) Roberts of Hilliard, Ohio, Tamara (Rick) Allison of Killbuck, Ohio, Robyn (Bill) Gruber of New Carlisle, Ohio, and Kari (Matthew) Halko of Olmsted Falls, Ohio; six great nephews; three great nieces; one great great nephew; three cousins and cherished neighbors, Jane and Jessica Dipple of Bellefontaine.

Mr. Goldsmith was a nationally known expert in the steel construction field. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1959 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He held memberships in Chi Epsilon, the National Civil Engineering Honor Society, the Engineering Council Advisory Board at Ohio State, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Welding Society, the American Society of Nondestructive Testing, the American Society of Protective Coatings, and served on the American Institute of Steel Construction�s Quality Control Certification Committee. He was a registered professional engineer in numerous states and was also a certified AWS welding inspector and a certified non-destructive testing inspector, specializing in ultrasonic testing.

From 1959 until 1970, he was employed by the American Bridge Division of United States Steel, at that time the largest steel fabricator/erector in the world. While there, he was involved in the erection planning and design of special equipment for erecting numerous major steel structures throughout the world, including major suspension bridges over the Tagus River in Portugal, the Orinoco River in Venezuela, and the Verrazano Narrows in New York. Nearby bridges include those over the Ohio River at Pittsburg, Vanport, and Shippingport, Pennsylvania, Huntington, West Viirginia, the I-75 bridge in Cincinnati and others. He designed the equipment and procedures for erecting the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, the Contemporary Theme Hotel in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and many other unique steel structures. He was the on-site project engineer on numerous high rise steel buildings, including the forty story Erieview Tower in Cleveland; the IBM building, the Federal Office Building; and eight others in Pittsburgh; the Sun Life Office Building and the Federal Office Building in Baltimore, Maryland; the Michigan Consolidated Gas Building in Detroit (which was the world�s first all welded high rise building) and dozens others. 

In 1971, he returned to Bellefontaine as vice president- plant engineer of Carter Steel, from which he retired in 1988.  Under his direction, Carter Steel fabricated and directed over one thousand steel structures including numerous hospitals, high rise office buildings, school structures, automotive plants, shopping malls, and more. The original Honda motorcycle plant as well as the original Honda automotive plant were two of his local projects.

A United States Army Sergeant veteran of the Korean War, he was a fifty year member of the Harold Kerr Post #173  American Legion in Bellefontaine, the Indian Lake Moose Lodge #1533 and the Logan County Friendly Senior Center. He was also a former member and music arranger for the Satan�s Angels Drum and Bugle Corps. A trombone player during the 1940�s and 50�s, he played with numerous dance bands in the area including several that frequently played the old Indian Lake dancehalls. He led his own dance band for several years and among their many local engagements, played for the annual original �Snowball� formal dance put on by the National Guard. He also played first trombone in the West Central Community Concert Band, the Fountainaires swing band, the Wittenberg College Concert Band, and The Main Street Dixieland Band and the Main Street Jazz Band, both of Urbana, Ohio. Mr. Goldsmith�s father, H.L. �Dutch� Goldschmidt, was a well known area musician who was one of the two founders of the very first Bellefontaine High School marching band. He enjoyed his family, working in the yard and most recently, playing bridge.

There will be a private family graveside service in the Glen Cemetery in Port Jefferson, Ohio, with Forrest �Woody� Amidon presiding. Military honors will be provided by the Logan County Veteran's Honor Guard. 

The staff of the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine assisted the family with the arrangements. 

Memorial contributions may be made to: Logan County Friendly Senior Center  934 S. Main St.  Bellefontaine, OH 43311