Donald Edward Smith

1938 - 2022

GRAND BEACH - Donald Edward Smith, 84, of Grand Beach, Michigan, and Naples, Florida, died at home in Grand Beach on Tuesday, March 13, 2022, near Midnight after a lengthy illness.

Don was born on January 13, 1938, in Newport, Kentucky, to Donald Matthew and Dorothy (Stenken) Smith. His childhood was populated by his loving aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, a devoted family whose best friends were each other.

His education was first at St Stephen School, in Newport, and in 1955 he graduated from Newport Catholic High School, the first graduating class of the relocated campus overlooking the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati. At NCH he began his love of Chemistry, the major he pursued at Eastern Kentucky University, earning his Bachelor of Science degree, and receiving his ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve in June, 1959. His immediate active duty was served in Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Knox, Kentucky. His nine years' Reserves obligation included being the Company Commander at the Zanesville, Ohio Army Reserve Unit where his leadership involved weekly and monthly meetings, and summer camps, frequently in Virginia. He was commissioned a Captain at the time of his honorable discharge.

Following his active duty, he started his career as a pharmaceutical sales representative in Zanesville, Ohio, which led to his promotions to Illinois, Massachusetts and back to Illinois, in management and executive positions for pharmaceutical sales and marketing.

Don married the former Elaine Catherine Burke of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, in 1962. They were joined by two daughters: Christine (Jack Moran) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Sharon (Jeff Valentine), of Naperville, Illinois. Don was the loving "Pooh" to his grandchildren: Cameron (Liz) Valentine; Jenna Moran (Corey) Burger; Alissa Valentine (Todd) Dunham; Kelly Moran (Brady) Fortin; Jordan Valentine; and Brett Moran; and five great grandchildren.

Don loved watching sports on television, especially baseball and football. In healthier times, he enjoyed going to a beach or some rare fishing events. He loved reading the WALL STREET JOURNAL and kept up with trends on the stock market.

European travel was a must for many vacations, journeying to countries from the British Isles to as far Russia on dozens of vacations. His favorites, to which he liked returning, were England, France, and Ireland.

Also on his travel itineraries would be the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan for one or two visits every year. And in former years he liked ski vacations to Stowe, Vermont, Vail Colorado, Glen Arbor, Michigan, or Galena, Illlinois.

His winters were spent at his Naples, Florida, condo where he liked socializing with new and old friends, especially including those from his hometown of "Greater Cincinnati."

Family and friends will be gathering for his funeral mass at St. Mary of the Lake Church, 718 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, Michigan 49117, on Friday, May 13, welcoming will be at 10:00 a.m.EDT and the service will start at 11:00 a.m. EDT; there will be a luncheon immediately following in the church's lower level. Burial will be at the nearby Pine Grove Cemetery, also on W. Buffalo Street.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Don's memory to: Newport Catholic High School, 13 Carothers Road, Newport, Kentucky 41017; American Legion Post No. 329, 115 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, Illinois 60048;

St. Mary of the Lake Church, 718 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, Michigan 49117.