Longtime Fairfield Resident Al Smith Passes, Age 85

Alan "Al" William Smith, 85, of Wenham, MA, formerly of Fairfield, CT passed away unexpectedly November 13, 2015. He was the beloved husband of the late Betty Smith.

Al was born in Greenwich, CT and spent most of his life in Fairfield County, CT. He graduated from Greenwich High School in 1948 and later earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science degree from the UMass Amherst School of Public Health. Al was also an accomplished athlete. He was a star hockey, football and baseball player during high school and continued on to play football in college. In his twenties, Al was a pitcher for several New York Giants minor league teams.

Al built his career in public health, starting in Westchester County, NY, where he met his wife, Betty. They were married for 52 years, making their home in Fairfield, CT. For most of his career, Al worked for the Westport Weston Health Department where he was a Public Health Inspector and he also served as president for the Connecticut Environmental Health Association.

Al was an avid outdoorsman his entire life. He fished for bluefish in Long Island Sound and scouted out the best streams throughout New York and New England. He kept a fishing rod in the car "just in case". He also took pride in his backyard gardens which produced an abundance of tomatoes, cucumbers and squash to share. Al had a lifelong interest in history and current events and he continued learning through reading and by attending performances and lectures. In both Fairfield and Wenham, he followed high school and college sports and he frequented local games year round. Both he and Betty inspired a family love for playing music together…a tradition that lives on.

Al was a deeply kind and generous man. He shared a very optimistic approach to living and he valued experiences and relationships of many kinds. Al had a wealth of jovial stories and he continued to add to these stories every day of his life. He was a person of unsurmountable integrity, caring and faith. 

Above all, he was dedicated to his family and many friends. Al's deepest love was for his wife, Betty and their children; Linda Smith of Wenham, MA, Paul Smith and his wife Valerie of Lee, NH and Monica Pessina and her husband Craig of West Newbury, MA as well as four grandchildren, Audrey and Shelby Smith and Emily and William Pessina.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of Saint Paul in Hamilton, MA on Friday, November 20. A memorial celebration will also be held in Connecticut in December.

Al can be best remembered by an act of kindness and friendship. Memorial contributions may be made to The Friends of the Wenham Council on Aging (FWCOA), 10 School Street, Wenham, MA 01984.

See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fairfieldcitizenonline/obituary.aspx?n=alan-smith&pid=176541969&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.jbObA0zx.dpuf

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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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