John R. Smith, 78 – Eagle News Online
John R. Smith, 78, of Cazenovia, died at the Crouse Community Center in Morrisville on May 25, 2021. He was born on June 25, 1942 in Binghamton to John and Madeline Smith. John graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA in 1964, where he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He was a US Navy veteran, lieutenant and was stationed on the Shangri-La aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean in the mid-1960s. John had a gift for interacting with people from different backgrounds and often enjoyed having a drink with them. His ability to understand other people’s perspectives made him a successful salesperson who enabled him to build lasting relationships in business and life.
John was very proud of the large family he brought together, including six adult children, five spouses, and ten grandchildren. An only child, he grew up on a farm in Tunnel, NY, where he raised two quarter horses and a small herd of Black Angus. As a young boy, his father encouraged him to sell door-to-door violets, and he attributed his sales success to this experience.
John had a long career in the electronics industry in sales and general management. He worked in the field for Corning Inc. for 15 years and lived in six different US cities. He was the general manager of Arrow Electronics’ Syracuse Branch for eight years before starting his own company. Smith Technical Sales was a successful sales representative for a manufacturer from 1990 to 2001. John then worked at ReMax until he retired in 2005.
He enjoyed watching all kinds of sports from his kids and grandchildren to the NFL and his beloved Giants. Boating, golfing, gardening and driving his John Deere tractor were among his pastimes. John was a member of the Electronics Rep Association and the Binghamton Country Club. He was a communicant with St. James Church.
John leaves behind his 40-year-old wife, Susan Siedenburg Smith; his children Jay (Theresa) Smith and their sons Ben and Evan from Richmond, VA, David (Sue) Smith and their sons Connor and Aidan from Potomac Falls, VA, Mike (Karen) Smith and their children Cade, Samantha and Madison Mad Mill Valley, CA, Kevin Eric Smith from PA, Kasey (Alex) Hooper and their sons Smith and Tucker from London, UK, and AJ (Allison) Smith and daughter Irena from Hermosa Beach, CA. In addition to his parents, John had previously died from his first wife, Kathleen Miller Smith.
The office hours are on Sunday, June 6, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road, Cazenovia. A Christian funeral will be celebrated on Monday, June 7th, 2021 at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, Green St. 6, in Cazenovia. The funeral will take place in St. James Cemetery in Cazenovia.
Instead of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St. PO Box DEV, Worcester, MA 01610 or through the website – Holycross.edu/give – In memory of John Smith, born in 1964. To offer a message of condolences to the Smith family, visit michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.