Robert Valentine Smith, 89, of Taneytown died peacefully Monday, June 17, 2013 at Lorien Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Taneytown. Born August 28, 1923 in West Hoboken, NJ, he was the son of the late Lawrence “Larry” and Catherine Emma Dietrich Smith. He was the husband of Kathleen P. Snype Smith, his wife of nearly 64 years.
Growing up in West Hoboken (now Union City), NJ, Bob Smith was a stand-out baseball and basketball player at St. Michael’s High School. He played baseball for three years in the New York Giants’ farm league before the Giants moved to San Francisco. He then enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. Bob served on one of the most decorated U.S. naval ships during World War II, the Fletcher class destroyer, USS Radford, DD446. Along with another destroyer, the Radford’s crew saved 782 sailors from the torpedoed cruiser, USS Helena, during the battle of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands. They sank an enemy cruiser and two destroyers and were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
After the war Bob attended Jersey City State College, New Jersey Teachers College, and Columbia University, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Education Administration. He served as a teacher and then as Principal of Fairview Elementary School in Monmouth County, NJ for 34 years, retiring in 1984. Besides being a teacher and principal, he was chairman of the St. Mary’s Parish council Education Committee in Middletown, NJ. He also operated a private reading school during summer months and coached youth baseball and basketball teams for many years.
Bob met his future bride, the former Kathleen P. Snype, on her 21st birthday, March 16, 1948. They were married the following year, on August 27, 1949. Bob and Kathleen relocated to Taneytown’s Carroll Vista community in June of 2005 and became active members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Taneytown. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed frequenting the Taneytown library to fulfill his love for reading good books. He also enjoyed giving astronomy lectures at local schools and libraries.
Surviving in addition to his wife are daughter, Elizabeth Anne Smith of Taneytown: sons, Lawrence F. Smith and wife Susan of East Greenwich, RI, Brian E. Smith and wife Patty of New Windsor, and Robert J. Smith and wife Karen of Lawrenceville, GA; grandchildren, Patricia Anderson and husband Nathan of Monroe, WA; Brian Smith and wife Katie of Spotsylvania, VA, Jaclyn Smith and fiancé Alex Turnbull of Newport RI, Andrew Smith and girlfriend Amy D’Orazio of Boston, MA, as well as Zachary, Sarah, and Victoria Smith, all of Lawrenceville, GA; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Matthew, Brian, Emily, Leah, Laura, and Owen. He was predeceased by a sister, Mabel Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 44 W. Frederick St, Taneytown, MD with Monsignor Martin E. Feild and the Rev. Robert Mosher as celebrants. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 136 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD. The rosary will be shared at 8:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Knights of Columbus, P.O. Box 61, Taneytown, MD, 21787.
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Growing up in West Hoboken (now Union City), NJ, Bob Smith was a stand-out baseball and basketball player at St. Michael’s High School. He played baseball for three years in the New York Giants’ farm league before the Giants moved to San Francisco. He then enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. Bob served on one of the most decorated U.S. naval ships during World War II, the Fletcher class destroyer, USS Radford, DD446. Along with another destroyer, the Radford’s crew saved 782 sailors from the torpedoed cruiser, USS Helena, during the battle of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands. They sank an enemy cruiser and two destroyers and were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
After the war Bob attended Jersey City State College, New Jersey Teachers College, and Columbia University, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Education Administration. He served as a teacher and then as Principal of Fairview Elementary School in Monmouth County, NJ for 34 years, retiring in 1984. Besides being a teacher and principal, he was chairman of the St. Mary’s Parish council Education Committee in Middletown, NJ. He also operated a private reading school during summer months and coached youth baseball and basketball teams for many years.
Bob met his future bride, the former Kathleen P. Snype, on her 21st birthday, March 16, 1948. They were married the following year, on August 27, 1949. Bob and Kathleen relocated to Taneytown’s Carroll Vista community in June of 2005 and became active members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Taneytown. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed frequenting the Taneytown library to fulfill his love for reading good books. He also enjoyed giving astronomy lectures at local schools and libraries.
Surviving in addition to his wife are daughter, Elizabeth Anne Smith of Taneytown: sons, Lawrence F. Smith and wife Susan of East Greenwich, RI, Brian E. Smith and wife Patty of New Windsor, and Robert J. Smith and wife Karen of Lawrenceville, GA; grandchildren, Patricia Anderson and husband Nathan of Monroe, WA; Brian Smith and wife Katie of Spotsylvania, VA, Jaclyn Smith and fiancé Alex Turnbull of Newport RI, Andrew Smith and girlfriend Amy D’Orazio of Boston, MA, as well as Zachary, Sarah, and Victoria Smith, all of Lawrenceville, GA; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Matthew, Brian, Emily, Leah, Laura, and Owen. He was predeceased by a sister, Mabel Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 44 W. Frederick St, Taneytown, MD with Monsignor Martin E. Feild and the Rev. Robert Mosher as celebrants. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 136 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD. The rosary will be shared at 8:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Knights of Columbus, P.O. Box 61, Taneytown, MD, 21787.