Richard Ellard Smith

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to your local animal shelter, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital or Good Shepherd hospice in his honor.

Richard Ellard Smith, age 81 from East Setauket, New York, died April 24, 2021 at home after an 8-month battle with liposarcoma.  Born 12/16/1939 in Great Neck, NY, he was the son of Charles and Harriet Smith.  He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1961 followed by 4 years of army reserves.  Dick retired from NYS Office of Mental Health after many years following careers at Grumman, owning a General Store in upstate New York, being a school bus driver, a college professor, a volunteer fireman and EMS volunteer among many other jobs.

Richard is survived by his soul mate, Michele Matton and their dog Squirt, his daughters Barbara Mann (Mike), Cathie (John) France and Jeanette Borger (Jeff), grandchildren Kenny (Celia) and Richie Mann, Tyler (Maddie), Brody and Katie France and Caitlin and Meghan Borger, Michele’s son Kord (Corinne) and daughter Simone (Joe) and their children. Also surviving is his daughter’s mother, Catherine M Smith and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his parents, brother Charles and sister Ruth Ann along with several beloved dogs.

Always one to stay busy, winters in Sanibel and summers on Long Island allowed he and Michele to volunteer at many different local theater and art venues.  Their social life centered around days at the beach with friends.  Dick kept his sense of humor to the very end, making jokes and sharing happy hour with his daughters during his last months.  You would be hard pressed to find anyone who did not love Dick, his quiet unassuming manner, and his positive outlook.