Kenneth J. Smith

Kenneth J. Smith 

Age 90, formerly of East Stroudsburg, PA, passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2022. Born on January 19, 1932, Ken was the son of deceased parents, John and Roberta Smith of Brooklyn, NY; Brother to George (deceased) (Katy-deceased) and Carol; and Uncle to their children;

Husband to Marilyn (Lynn) Smith (deceased); Father of Nancy (Craig) and Glenn (Eva); Grandfather of Erika, Kristen; Great Grandfather to Noah, Kiara; Brother-in-law to Lynn’s two deceased brothers and their spouses: Jack (Ruth) and Charlie (Babe); Uncle to Richie (Rita), Warren (deceased) (Linda), Kenny (Pat), Kathy (Larry), Steven (deceased), Judy (Mike), Connie (deceased) (Joe), Bobby (Jon), Patty (Guy); and Great Uncle to their children;

Husband to Rose Amato (deceased); Stepfather of Janet Wilson (Charlie), Diane Blackadder (Bruce-deceased), and Gail Gage (Tom) (Big Bob); Grandfather to 9 Step Grandchildren: Lisa, Keith (Jessica), Maegan (Michael), Robert, Mark (Krista), Craig (Ashley), Amy (Roger), Lori, Justin; Great Grandfather to 12 Step Great Grandchildren: William, Brittany, Taylor, Kelsey, Marissa, William, Scarlett, Isabella, Michael, Kea, Ryleigh, Brydon; Great Great Grandfather to 3 Great Great Grandchildren: Milania, Briella, Lyric; Brother-in-law to Rose’s deceased sister and spouse: Sadie (Martin); Uncle to Lorraine (William-deceased), Dennis, Jeffrey (Denise); and Great Uncle to their children.

Ken Smith was a soft spoken, intelligent man who had a mischievous and sometimes spicy sense of humor, and who could also be headstrong and stubborn at times. He was a man who overcame much adversity and had many successes in his lifetime. He lived life to its fullest! He was not a drinking man, but he sure loved to eat!

As a child born during the depression era, he started life at a disadvantage when his parents, who were not welloff, struggled to keep the family together. Due to these difficult circumstances, both he and his brother would be, at the worst of times, temporarily placed in foster homes during their pre and adolescent years. Unfortunately, the foster homes did not always provide the best environments nor stability, and were oftentimes, in bad neighborhoods. At that time in history, New York street gangs were prevalent and he struggled with avoiding them when walking to school as he was a small, quiet and intelligent child who loved to read and learn. Thankfully, he found refuge when, and especially loved, staying with his grandmother in her house on stilts over the waters of Jamaica Bay in Broad Channel.

He would spend his summers (full-time) and whenever he could otherwise at his grandmother’s house. It was there that he developed his adventurist spirit and his love of water and its bounty, that lasted his lifetime. Oftentimes, what he caught was their dinner. Owing to his desire to learn how things work (mechanics), his interest in woodworking introduced to him through school shop classes, and his love of fishing, he quickly made friends with the local fishermen and boat vendors as he was willing to do odd jobs and to help keep the boats afloat and running. In turn, he had more opportunities than most to explore the vast waterways of Jamaica Bay, both in or on the water: boating, fishing, crabbing, clamming and doing everything else doable in such a vast playground.

To keep those gang bullies away after getting into some tight spots, he joined a police funded “Keep the Boys Off the Streets” neighborhood boxing program, which he loved. That experience developed his life-long interest in the sport, but mostly as spectator after his teenage years.

Ken, as an adolescent and teenager was always searching for adventure and perhaps, searching for a way out from the hand he was dealt. At one point when he was younger and lived near Belmont Park Racetrack, a horse racing track, he aspired to become a jockey since he was small for his age and liked caring for the horses. So, again, he was quick to make friends with the adults of the business and became a horse walker. Somewhere along the way, he had heard that smoking would stunt his growth, so he started smoking at a very young age. As he tells it, unfortunately, it did not work because as he got older, he got taller and heavier! Long before he turned 17 years of age, at 5 feet 8 inches and 145 pounds, he had already exceeded the height and weight restrictions for a jockey. He was always considered a slight man and he was never considered tall, but his height and weight was just perfect for joining the US Naval Submarine force!

So, at age 17, he joined the Navy as engineer in training on the SS-245 USS Cobra during the Korean conflict. After his training, he was assigned as radio operator and served on three different submarines, the SS-222 USS Bluefish, SS-475 USS Argonaut and the SS-220 USS Barb, which was the longest assignment. All were post World War II vessels and part of the Atlantic Fleet, so he saw no action since their ports of call were throughout the Atlantic: Connecticut to Florida, the Caribbean and Central America. This experience, as a young adult, solidified his interest in mechanics, engineering and construction, as well as continued his love of water, fishing, seafood and adventure.

He would often tell stories about the Navy and one story in particular, would be a half-joke as to why he joined the Navy in the first place, “so that I could have 3 square-meals a day and a place to sleep.” He would always boast that the Navy had the best food and recall special memories of having the biggest and tastiest prawns he has ever eaten. After the Navy, he worked in shipyards repairing and building wooden boats. Once boat building transitioned mostly to fiberglass, his interest turned to residential construction and woodworking. In those days, apprenticeships held a lot of weight and together with his dedicated work ethic and skills, he became a respected and skilled craftsmen. So, eventually, he established his own business as an architect, designer and general contractor, building homes and other structures.

It was around that time, that he met Marilyn (Lynn) Smith, my mother. In his mid-20s, they got married and started a family by having me and my brother. We lived in many homes, but one house in particular, I remember the most because it was where we, my brother and I, spent most of our childhood. It was a lovely 60s ranch-style home that he built on a quiet street in the suburbs of Yorktown Heights, New York. It had a big front and backyard with a stream down a hill in the back. It was a stunning house to look at with its exterior of pink granite stone with green highlights and a grand living room with a huge, solid wall of granite for the fireplace. I have some of my fondest childhood memories while living in that house. Oftentimes, we had big gatherings and parties with lots of company, extended family and friends. One special memory I have, was when we had a really big gathering and a traditional in-the-ground clam and pig bake. My father had dug a huge hole in the ground in order to roast a whole pig along with all the vegetables and seafood… Yum! I am my father’s daughter, who inherited his love for food and adventure.

Around 1969, and after some emotionally trying times, my father met and married his second wife, Rose Amato and the family expanded with three step daughters (one still living at home) and their families. During a housing market down-turn, he was given an offer he couldn’t refuse and some time later, in the early 70s, he and Rose moved to the Poconos to start on a new journey in Pennsylvania of building homes in a real estate community. In another stroke of luck, his boss was unable to attend a meet and greet with several potential clients and asked him to go in his place, which developed into a whole new career in real estate sales and construction projects. In time, he was receiving many accolades, achievements and successes from real estate sales, that he was able to pick and choose between what constructions projects he wanted to do. Before he knew it, he was manager to a large sales force, with Rose at his side, at The Hideout and Penn Estates. With his entrepreneurial and problem solving spirit, he designed an automated antifreeze system to prevent the pipes from freezing inside RV’s, during the winter at Lake Adventure. During that time, he also continued designing and building homes as well as other construction projects throughout the Pocono area. He built a beautiful home for Rose, which was later featured in a architectural magazine. We called that house “the Spanish house” due to its design… Ken and Rose enjoyed many happy years living there!

Throughout his life, his spirit for adventure and his love of water and its bounty was constant. He would vacation and travel with his spouse(s), family, and friends to different locations and countries, always finding ways to experience life to its fullest and especially, to fish in as many different environments as possible: from deep sea fishing for blues, tuna, and other edible fish; to shrimping and crabbing; to scuba diving and spear fishing; and ice fishing in the winters. He even tried sport fishing and a caught a really big Marlin once, but he was never one to kill strictly for sport! If he was going to kill it, he was going to eat it! That was so, even during his hunting phase. But, he would almost never, turn down an opportunity to fish in some local pond, lake, river or stream when home.

During his lifetime, he utilized his many skills to help others and to enjoy his hobbies… From helping family members with construction, plumbing and home improvement projects; to making furniture, cabinetry and other woodworking projects; to building and flying an ultralight with the longest flight recorded, at the time, which was covered in the newspaper, while he was going for his pilot license; to constructing a racing iceboat and building icehouses for winter recreation; to redesigning and building a 17 ft. replica float of the “Barb” submarine for the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Pocono Base for which he was a member; and to redesigning and constructing a 20 ft. shallow water fishing boat based on Akins’ design of a medical rescue and evacuation boat during World War II, called the “Rescue Minor.”

Our father imparted the desire for knowledge, the drive to do one’s best, to seek adventure, and to love food! He taught us to fish, sail, snow ski to name a few, but most importantly, he taught us to experience life, and to at least, try all kinds of foods! Dad, you will be missed. With love, Nancy and Glenn

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to Fisher House, Canines for Warriors, Homes for Our Troops, and/or Feeding America's Hungry Children.

Services are private and entombment is at Laurelwood Cemetery, Stroudsburg, PA.

Remembrances, Comments, and Anecdotes:

From Glenn: I see and hear my father in many things that I do. Although we were not always able to be together, I am grateful for the times we did have, and the things that he taught me. I’ll always remember him. Goodbye for now. I miss you Dad, your fishing “Buddy” and son.

From Richard (Richie): My fondest memory of my high school years was spending the summers of my junior and senior years living with my Aunt Lynn and Uncle Ken and working with Uncle Ken constructing houses. I was little more than a helper but occasionally I got to swing a hammer. Admittedly, it took three swings to drive in a nail to Uncle Ken's one, but I got great deal of satisfaction seeing something being built where only an empty lot stood before. On our lunch break, I would sit on the deck of unfinished house with the rest of Uncle's crew with a hero sandwich and bottle of soda and admired what we had accomplished, and take in the scent of the newly cut pine. That experience taught me the value of hard work to achieve a goal. After the day was done, Uncle Ken would break out the fishing rods and we would fish together as the sun slowly set. As a result, I developed a lifelong love of fishing. I have much to thank Uncle Ken for the person that I have become. He will be missed.

From Ken (Kenny): Your father and I were riding a Ferris-wheel and they stopped it when we were at the very top of the ride. While we were waiting, your dad started to unscrew the bolts on the seat. Your dad was laughing and I haven’t been on a Ferris-wheel since.

From Kathy: Ken was my uncle (related by marriage), my godfather and a talented craftsman. I have fond memories of my childhood enjoying large family events at the beautiful house he built himself in Yorktown Heights, NY. Just being all together was great fun. Ken eventually moved from that house to Pennsylvania. Later in life, not that long ago, I had the joy of having him come to my home on Long Island for a family gathering. The children who enjoyed his special home all those years ago came together as adults to visit with him again. It’s a lovely memory.

From Judy: When I was a kid, I always thought Uncle Kenny was so handsome and charming.

From Lisa: I lost a very special part of my heart on November 12, 2022. My last living grandparent, my grandfather, Kenneth Smith, left this world to be with God. He was an extraordinary man! He worked hard from childhood on and never let pain, sickness or hardship stop him. Grandpa was a Navy submarine veteran and proud of it. He even built a replica submarine that is used by his vet group in parades and at events. His sense of humor was corny and sometimes a little too x-rated for my ears but he had the right idea; laughter gets you thru anything. I'll miss him dearly and always treasure the bond we formed after my Gram passed away. RIP Grandpa till we meet again! Stay out of trouble up there.

From Amy: Anytime spent with grandpa was a good time. His sense of humor and the patience he always had when anyone asked a question, especially with my girls and explaining everything in great detail on how to do something. Roger worked with him when he redid our bathroom, Roger learned from him too.

From Keith: It is with great sadness that I am writing this, but also comes with celebrated memories of my Grandfather’s impacts on my life. Grandpa was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. He was an early influence on me when it comes to work ethic. It started when he gave me a job, at an early age, working with him on his construction sites. He was generously kind, as I likely cost him more than the value of work that i completed. In fact, I’m certain of this as I broke lots of Spanish tiles between carrying them up a ladder and nailing them to the roof. Each time I made a mistake and set his profits back, he would patiently provide corrective guidance, never letting a mistake go to waste. Grandpa was tough. I loved hearing his stories of his years in the Navy and about his boxing matches. He’d start the stories after lighting a lucky cigarette with the filter ripped off. Grandpa was a clown, always joking with us and laughing with a distinct laugh that only grandpa could produce. I’ll never forget him sending me out onto his lake in a small paddle boat and then yelling that he forgot to warn me about a shark in the waters. At a young age, that was terrifying until I was back on shore to find it was a joke. He loved his food. In particular, you wouldn’t want to be an ear of corn on the cob in his presence. To this day, I haven’t seen anyone eat a whole ear of corn as quickly and cleanly as he did. Special talent. After a long day of work, he would walk in through the garage door, give my grandmother a long loving kiss hello, eat dinner and then proceed to kick back in his lazy-boy sharing the lovely scent of socks that were trapped in his work boots all day. When he would wake himself up from snoring during his nap, he would get chocolate bars from the freezer for us all to enjoy. Grandpa was so cool, whether it be driving the “Banana”, his yellow corvette, or talking on his box phone while we were driving, long before mobile phones were common. He was a renaissance man, an amazing Grandfather and a wonderful all around person loved by many. He will be greatly missed.

From Robert (Bob) L. Smith (No relation), the United States Submarine Veterans Inc., Pocono Base: Ken was particular who did what to the “Barb” while he was building it. It was his baby. When someone showed up to help him, he would hand them a piece of sandpaper. (BTW - He completed the project in 3 months [in 2009] in his 2 bay garage.)

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to Fisher House, Canines for Warriors, Homes for Our Troops, and/or Feeding America's Hungry Children.

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