John J. Smith, 86, of Newtown, died Wednesday March 30 after a courageous battle with Parkinson ’s disease. He was born in Simsbury, June 20, 1929 and was the son of the late Maud L. (Abbey) Smith and James Francis Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Stacie (Kosiba) Smith, his daughters Barbara McLaughlin and her husband Robert of Stratham, New Hampshire, and Cynthia Smith of Danbury.
Besides his wife and daughters he leaves his brother, Richard A. Smith of Cromwell, several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Irene Lombardo, his brother James F. Smith, and his sister Gail A. Smith.
A native of Simsbury, Mr. Smith grew up in Middletown, Connecticut and resided in Newtown for the past 54 years. He joined the Connecticut Light and Power Company at Meriden in 1953 as an estimator. He held various classifications until 1957 when he became an engineering estimator. He was made an engineer in Danbury in 1961 and was named District Gas Engineer in 1964. He was named area Manager and Gas Engineer at Ansonia in 1968 and later became Norwalk District Manager in 1973. He was Director of gas supply and business services for Northeast Utilities.
Mr. Smith retired in 1994 from the former Yankee Gas Company in Meriden where he was Vice President of Gas Operations and a member of the New England Gas Association.
Mr. Smith graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in mechanical engineering and was a member of the University of Connecticut Alumni Association. He is a US Army Veteran.
Mr. Smith enjoyed wood working, building several pieces of furniture. He also enjoyed stamp collecting. He traveled with his wife to Barbados, Paris, Switzerland, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise on the Queen Mary. He loved his best friend, a cat named Dexter, who predeceased him in 2012.

Friends may call Tuesday, April 5, from 9:45 to 10:45 at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, Tuesday, April 5 at 11 am. Interment with full military honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, www.michaeljfox.org, or the Regional Hospice and Home Care, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT 06810, www.regionalhospicect.org

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