Dr. Jay Charles Smith

Dr. Jay Charles Smith, 80, of Hunlock Creek, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, after being admitted on May 12, 2009, for treatment of a heart condition.
Smith will always be remembered as a controversial figure in one of the most publicized murder cases in the history of Pennsylvania. Smith was convicted for the 1979 murder of Susan Reinert and her two children, despite Smith maintaining his innocence from the day of his arrest until the day of his death. Smith was sentenced to death upon conviction and was housed on death row until 1992 when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction and released Smith from death row. The court repeatedly referred to Smith’s prosecution and conviction as “evil,” after evidence that clearly exonerated Smith was found hidden in the home of a State Trooper in charge of the Reinert investigation. It was further learned that the Trooper and the prosecution team was paid substantial money by Joseph Wambaugh, the author of the best seller Echoes in the Darkness. The book was mostly written prior to the outcome of the Smith trial; however, the value of the book would have been greatly diminished had Smith been acquitted.
After being exonerated of the crimes, Smith moved to the Dallas area to be with his daughter. His high school sweetheart, Stephanie Zdun, became his wife after high school but had died. He began to write his memoirs about his wrongful conviction and life on death row. He met Maureen, whom he married in 2002. The two spent several years administering an adult-care facility. They lived in a senior citizen community in Hunlock Creek, where Maureen maintains residence. Smith completed his first set of memoirs which developed into a book recently published, “Joseph Wambaugh and the Jay Smith Case.” The book counters “Echoes in the Darkness.”
Smith continued to write his memoirs with plans to publish a second book before his untimely death. Jay Smith grew up during the Great Depression of the 1930s. He credited his mother and father for giving him a great home life and his four brothers and sister who taught him the basics of survival that helped him forever in the two paths he followed: Education and the Military.
Smith began his military career as a private in 1946 and retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a full Colonel in 1976. He was a highly decorated soldier and was awarded his last command over a dozen other highly qualified, high ranking officers. His appointment as Unit Commander, 183rd U.S. Army Terminal Station compliment was made by the President of the U.S. after his recommendation proclaimed, “LTC Jay C. Smith is recommended after careful consideration of all of the above mentioned officers based on both his qualifications and his demonstrated ability to command. LTC Smith is unusually dedicated to the Reserve Program with a demonstrated high level of ability and ingenuity in both military and civilian accomplishments.” Smith was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1974 and 1962. He received the Navy Unit Commendation in 1972 for exceptionally meritorious service.
While coordinating relief operations and providing rescue and logistical support to flood victims in the state of Pennsylvania from June 23, 1972, to September 25, 1972, Smith received his BS degree in Education and English. He further earned a Master of Science in Education Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and the Degree of Doctor of Education from Temple University in 1974. He was hired by the Board of Education to become the new principal and superintendent of Upper Marion High School, because of his military discipline and academic accomplishments. He immediately became controversial as he attempted to institute academic and military discipline at the upscale school attended by mostly students from affluent families. Smith’s sesquipedalian efforts to increase the vocabulary level each morning at the school was highly resisted by students who were unused to such discipline. The rebuke by some students and teachers made Smith an easy mark for rumors and character assassination, all of which transferred to an easy path for investigators to continue the assassination in the news media leading up to Smith’s conviction.
Smith’s military dedication and history remained unblemished through his retirement. Smith was a dedicated husband to Maureen at the time of his death. He liked camping, fishing and painting. He devoted his public activities as a speaker against the death penalty as part of authoress of Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen Prejean’s WITNESS TO INNOCENCE organization. He and his wife, Maureen, also volunteered at St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre.
Smith is survived by his wife, Maureen Ann Leary-Smith, Sweet Valley; a daughter, Sherwyn Smith, Dallas; stepchildren, Tammy and her husband, Michael Klucitas, Kingston; Rayleen Burkhardt, Swoyersville, and Raymond and his wife, Christian Leary, Swoyersville; step-grandchildren, Michael and Erin Klucitas and Elizabeth and Olivia Burkhardt.
A memorial service will be held today at 1 p.m. at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, 140 N. Main Street, Shavertown, with Father James Paisley, officiating. Interment will be in Chapel Lawn Burial Park, Dallas, with full military honors. Friends may call this afternoon from noon until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen, Wilkes-Barre, or the charity of the donor’s choice.