Clair C. "Corky" Smith

Rochester, NY – Clair C. "Corky" Smith passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026. He was 88 years old.

Corky is survived by his wife of almost 70 years Margaret McKay "Moon" Smith; daughter Lorie Barry (James Holcomb); sons William C. Smith (Gina), Michael Smith (Vicki); brother Ronald L. Smith (Patricia); 6 grandchildren; and 16 great children. He was predeceased by his parents Chillian C. & Keitha T. Smith; brother Lawrence R. Smith; and parents-in-law William and Martha McKay.

Corky was born in Canandaigua on June 4, 1937 (coincidentally the same day as Moon). He attended Canandaigua City Schools and the Rochester Institute of Technology. After marrying Moon in 1956 they resided in then Holcomb, NY (now Bloomfield) where they raised their three children.

Corky's father Chillian was an excellent mechanic and owned an auto repair business. Early on Corky had a love and aptitude for anything mechanical and worked for his father. He went to work for Kordite Corporation (later Mobil Chemical and now Pactiv) where he was skilled at developing, making and maintaining equipment for new products and traveled throughout the U.S. and the world helping at other company locations. He had a "baggies" associated patent. Possessing an adventurous entrepreneurial spirit Corky opened a NAPA Auto Parts store, which would be well-served by his mechanical background, in Lima, NY. After success in Lima he opened stores over the next several years in Avon, Geneseo and Holcomb, NY. Corky became interested in real estate and earned his sales and brokers licenses. He sold the NAPA stores and owned Farmhouse Realty. Later yet, after Farmhouse, Corky finished his career as general manager at McKenna Builders in Canandaigua.

Corky was community minded and active. He was a life member of the East Bloomfield-Holcomb Fire Department being recognized as Fireman of the Year in 1971. He was a key founder and member of the East Bloomfield-Holcomb ambulance corps. He was an East Bloomfield-Holcomb Rotary Club member who served as president from 1978-1979. He and Moon hosted a Brazilian foreign exchange student through Rotary's foreign exchange student program. In 1980 his commitment to the community was recognized by the East Bloomfield-Holcomb Chamber of Commerce which named him Citizen of the Year.

He had memberships in the Bloomfield Scientific Club, Ducks Unlimited, Canandaigua Lake Duck Hunters, Hol Field Rod & Gun Club, Canandaigua Country Club, and the Victor Hills Country Club.

Throughout his life he looked forward to fishing trips to Canada, deer camps in many locations, and golfing anywhere and everywhere with family and friends. He had great times serving as "navigator" for his private pilot father flying to many places. After losing a leg in an auto accident he became an accomplished snow skier and became an instructor teaching others to ski with the same challenge. Corky especially enjoyed spending time at the homes he and his great friend Ike McKenna owned in Constableville, NY (Tug Hill). Family and friends worked together on numerous projects year round to be ready for the deep snow winters that offered great opportunity for skiing and snowmobiling. Times with Corky defined the joys of camaraderie.

Corky worked to make his community better. He had a great love for and willingness to help his family and friends. He was an entrepreneur filled with ambition, optimism, indomitable spirit, industriousness, resourcefulness, honesty, and integrity. He had devilish smile, keen sense of humor and infectious laugh. He loved having a great time - especially while enjoying a good Manhattan.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Corky's life will be held later in the year.

Memorial contributions may be made to East Bloomfield - Holcomb Fire Dept., PO Box 246, East Bloomfield, NY 14443 (payable please to East Bloomfield-Holcomb Fire Department - donations are tax deductible).