Jan L. Smith

1959 - 2025

Jan L. Smith, a resident of Elmira, NY passed away on June 16, 2025, just a few days before his 66th birthday. He was the son of Marvin Smith and the late Irma Smith, sister of Heidi Smith Ferren and the late Anita Regina Etscovitz.

Jan was raised in Pittsfield, MA and graduated from Taconic High School in 1977 with High Honors. He was a member of the Taconic High School ski team and was a ski instructor at Bousquet Mountain and Jiminy Peak ski area. Jan had a classic rock radio show at WTBR-FM located at the High School. He was the President of the Medical Explorers Club which exposed students to careers in science and medicine.

Jan briefly lived in Medford, Massachusetts where he recommended specific audio equipment to each client and then facilitated the purchase between the supplier and his customers. He was a very intelligent and creative thinker.

Jan loved classical music and attended many concerts at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. He had an extensive record collection from the Beatles to Beethoven and introduced many people to different musical genres.

Jan settled in Binghamton, New York, and adored his cousins Willow Sullivan and her mother, the late Joan Schumacher, who were instrumental in welcoming him to the area and guiding him.

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Irma (Benjamin) Smith, and sister Anita Regina Etscovitz.

Jan is survived by: his father Marvin A. Smith; his sister Heidi (Smith) Ferren, her husband Richard and their son Robert; his brother-in-law David Etscovitz and wife Carol; his uncle Malcolm Benjamin and wife Tink; his niece Lisa Shaw, her husband Bob, and their daughter Lilly; his cousin Willow "Sissy" Sullivan; and a dear friend Celia Alpern, her husband Ken, and their children Nate and Becca.

The family will receive condolences and share stories at Knesset Israel Synagogue, 16 Colt Road, Pittsfield, MA on Monday, June 30th at 7 pm. Jan's burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to Willow's Wings Animal Sanctuary, Inc., 30 Kay Road, Endicott, NY 13740 or the Knesset Israel Shirei Shabbat Music Fund.