Robert "Smitty" Smyth

Robert "Smitty" Smyth – devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and forever the life of the party – passed away of a broken heart on August 7, 2025. In an extraordinary turn, Smitty left us on his wife's birthday, just as she had passed away on his birthday in June 2023. To many this feels unbelievable, but to those who knew them, it was destiny: two inseparable souls forever connected in life and now in eternity.
Smitty was born on Staten Island, New York, before moving to Paramus, NJ, where he grew up and graduated from Paramus High in 1971 alongside the love of his life, Margaret "Maggie" Mulchaey. Together they built a beautiful life, sharing 48 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and adventure. He is survived by his loving son Jason, devoted grandson Evan Robbins, and younger brother Jim, along with countless nieces and nephews who adored him. He was preceded in death by his cherished daughter Lindsay in 2010, his beloved wife Maggie in 2023, and his brother Tom in 2008.
Everyone who knew Smitty spoke of his warm spirit, contagious humor, and the way he could brighten a room with his smile or his unforgettable phone greetings. He had a gift for making people feel welcome, showing affection to everyone he met, and finding a way to make others laugh, often through his love of practical jokes. Though thrifty at times (a trait he joked about often), he was known for his generosity of spirit and willingness to step in when family and friends needed him.
From a young age, he carried great responsibility, stepping into a father-figure role for his younger brother Jim after the loss of their dad. He led Boy Scout trips, became a scout leader, and was admired as a mentor long after the campfires had burned out. That same devotion carried into fatherhood – coaching Jason's sports teams, chaperoning every field trip, supporting every interest of his children, and later helping to raise his grandson Evan after Lindsay's passing. His devotion to family was unwavering, and he often became "Dad" to Jason's friends and others who were drawn to his kindness.
Professionally, Smitty built a career in the gaming industry, opening the Playboy Hotel and Casino in 1981 with his brother Jim – the "other Smitty" – before moving on to Atlantis and Showboat in Atlantic City. He retired to Cape Coral, Florida in 2008, where he and Maggie enjoyed life on the water, boating, fishing, and sunsets in the backyard. It became a long-running family joke that Smitty had a "reverse Midas touch" with employers - from casinos to even Pacemaker Yachts (which had been in business for 32 years before he joined) - somehow, the doors always closed shortly after he walked through them. He wore it like a badge of honor, quick to point out that at least he always left with great stories and even better friends.
He and Maggie traveled the world together, with itineraries lovingly planned by her and adventures joyfully embraced by him. From Venezuela and Mexico to Costa Rica, London, Malaysia, and Italy, their travels were filled with stories, laughter, and memories shared with friends and family. At home, their legendary gatherings – from formal holidays to wild, joyful parties – became the heartbeat of their family and community. Seeing them together was to witness a love story that left everyone around them smiling.
In 2012, Smitty received a liver transplant at Tampa General Hospital, a gift that blessed his family with nearly fifteen more years of his presence, humor, and love. It also gave him precious time to stand proudly beside Maggie, to raise Evan, to laugh with friends, and to hold Maggie's hand until her very last breath. His family extends their deepest gratitude to Tampa General not only for his transplant, but also for the extraordinary care given to Maggie through her long fight, and for the compassion shown during her time in ICU.
Smitty requested no formal service, funeral, or wake. Instead, he asked that those who knew him raise a glass in his honor, whenever family and friends come together – a celebration not just of his life, but of the extraordinary love story he and Maggie shared.
He will forever be greatly loved and missed. Their passing on one another's birthdays is no coincidence but proof of a bond so deep it transcends time itself. And if there is a party in heaven, you can be certain Smitty and Maggie are already hosting it, laughter echoing, music playing, surrounded by the family and friends they loved so dearly.
To place a note or remembrance of condolence on Margaret "Maggie", please follow this link: In loving memory of Margaret "Maggie" Smyth – Obituary Baldwin Brothers