SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thomas Vincent Smith, Sr., 92, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2015.
Born on Jan. 6, 1923 in Passaic, NJ, to parents Anna Petrick Smith and James A Smith, Sr., he was married to Florence Eileen Sullivan Smith of Corinth, NY in 1946 and resided in Greenfield Center for over 50 years. They later moved to Saratoga Springs where they lived until moving into the Wesley complex in 2013.
A devout parishioner of St. Clement’s Church in Saratoga Springs, he was a Third degree member of Saratoga Council 246 and a Fourth degree member of Saratoga Assembly 745 Knights of Columbus. He and his late wife Florence were participants in the Marriage Encounter program and were longtime Eucharistic Ministers at St. Clement’s.
Tom was a US Army veteran of World War II and served in the 101st Tank Battalion, 10th Armored Group, which was classified Top Secret, "The Canal Defense Light project." After landing in Normandy on D-Day, he spent the remainder of his duty in the European Theater until the war's end. In June of 1944, as Tom was landing on the beaches of Normandy, his classmates at Saratoga High School were receiving their diplomas. As part of the 70th year anniversary of D-Day, Tom was given special recognition for his service and was awarded his high school diploma with the class of 2014 of Saratoga Springs High School. After returning home from the war, Tom had a 39-year career with the International Paper Company, retiring in 1985.
An accomplished musician, he spent his entire life enjoying music and sharing it with the public across the Northeast. With his brother Jim and brother in-law Tom Sullivan, they started a band called The Frontiersmen and were joined by friends with musical talents over several decades. For more than 40 years their music lifted the spirits of the public, nursing home residents as well as many families celebrating special occasions.
Survivors include four children: Veronica Smith Gray (Caldwell, OH), Donna Smith Rickard (Mansfield, OH), Michael T. Smith, (Greenfield, NY), and Thomas V. Smith Jr, (Chicago, IL); eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Florence and his brother, James A. Smith, Jr.
Relatives and friends celebrated his life Monday, July 6, 2015 in St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial. Mr. Smith was buried with military honors in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. in Saratoga Springs.
