Richard A. Smith

Richard A. Smith
10/13/2025
Richard (Dick) A. Smith, of Greensboro, NC, passed on October 13, 2025 as he began his 94th year of life. Loving husband of Frances M. Smith for 64 years (prior to her passing in 2023), and son of Arnold and Mildred (Jaminet) Smith of Waterbury, CT. Survived by Lauren and Kevin Fusco (Foxboro, MA), Gretchen and Paul Dascoli (Mooresville, NC), and Trip Smith & Gina Ferguson (Greensboro, NC). Grandfather a.k.a. Gramps to Kristyn Fusco, Erin Fusco, Megan Fusco, Dominic P. Dascoli II, and Alex (Dascoli) Wagstaff, and Great-Gramps to Cameron and Lee.
Born in Cleveland, OH, Dick soon moved to Waterbury, CT where he would spend his formative years before joining the Navy. Upon completion of his military service, he began a career with Revere Copper & Brass that would span decades and include several family moves. Residences in Mattapoisett, MA, Ellicott City, MD, Dunwoody, GA, Riverside and Wilton, CT provided numerous lifelong friendships, before retiring to Wallace, NC to pursue his dream of living on a golf course.
Dick enjoyed golfing, playing cards, reading the paper cover to cover (when there still were newspapers) and 5 o'clock, because that was Manhattan time and he knew how to make a great one. He was also quite the dancer, never letting a good tune go to waste.
He will be remembered for his enduring love of his wife Fran, always remembering to say thank you no matter how small a gesture, and his expression "Cheese and Crackers", which his kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and countless friends and relatives use frequently today.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Therese Catholic Church in Mooresville, NC on October 25, 2025. A Graveside service will be held in the Spring of 2026 at St. Mary Cemetery, Greenwich, CT. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate