Richard Lee Smith

Richard Lee Smith, 82, of Akron, Ohio and Siesta Key, Florida passed away peacefully in Akron on Thursday, April 1, 2021 surrounded by his four children and loving wife Patricia. Dick was born to Alexander and Bertha (Kapish) Smith in Barberton, Ohio. A true "Barbertonian" and devout Catholic, he attended and served as an altar boy at C&M Parish School, graduated from Barberton High School in 1956, and attended Kent State University on a football scholarship where he graduated in 1960 with a Business Administration degree. While at Kent State, Dick met the love of his life - Patricia Reed (Canfield, Ohio) - and soon after the two were married and spent 61 happy years together as husband and wife and best friends. With their love and support of each other, and with Dick's natural leadership ability, wisdom, work ethic, and respect for others, he began his 36-year career at The M. O'Neil Company, a division of the May Department Stores. He began in the executive training program and quickly climbed the executive ladder to Senior Vice President. Throughout his time as a buyer for menswear, he was afforded opportunities to travel the world to buy merchandise for O'Neils. Anyone who knew Dick knew that fashion and style was his "thing." No outfit was complete without a pocket square. During his time with the company, he was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri with Famous-Barr Co. He later retired to Portage Lakes, the place where he always dreamed of living near his children and grandchildren. In the wintertime, Dick and Patricia traveled to Siesta Key, Florida to enjoy the sunshine, tennis, Big Olaf's, and Sunday night drum circles at sunset. Dick was very social - the epitome of a peoples' person. His children and family will always remember him as a man of tradition - he never missed a holiday, a party, ritual, or "big event." Some of his favorite traditions included enjoying a DiRusso's sausage sandwich at the Canfield Fair, boating on Portage Lakes, ice skating on the lakes for his birthday, and setting up his Lionel train collection every Christmas around his tree. Dick was an avid Magics fan, never missing a chance to cheer on the basketball and football teams. Dick was a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church for 25 years. "Smitty" was a member of the Magic City Kiwanis since 1975 and was Membership Chairman for several years. In 2000, he was awarded Kiwanian of the Year. He gave his time to the Mobile Meals, Bridgestone Invitational, and he also enjoyed mentoring aspiring businessmen. Dick is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia; their four children, Susan (Michael) Ciccolini, Jim (Beth Ann) Smith, Laura (Drew) Engles, Sherrie (Jim) Jones, and nine grandchildren, Angela, Joseph, Maria, Julia, Matthew, Leah, Anamarie, Catherine, Richard; two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Lonnell Jr., with two on the way. Also surviving are his brother, Bill Smith, many loving nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends for over 60 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Johnny and sister-in-law, Genny. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church (4019 Manchester Road, Akron). Preceding mass there will be visitation and viewing from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the vestibule of the church. The mass will also be held virtually, and the link for the mass can be found on the Campfield-Hickman-Collier website (www.campfield-hickman-collier.com). The family will hold a Celebration of Life to honor Dick at a later date in light of the pandemic. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dick's honor to the Barberton All Sports Booster Club (555 Barber Road, Barberton 44203). All events at the church will require social distancing and face masks.