Jeremiah James Smith

SMITH

JEREMIAH JAMES SMITH "Jerry"

Of Springfield, Virginia passed away on October 12, 2022, at the age of 86.



Jerry was born to James Francis Smith and Margaret Crowley Smith in Manhattan, New York. His father died when Jerry was a child, and Jerry quickly displayed his strong work ethic, taking on a vast variety of jobs to help support his family.



After graduating from the High School of Commerce, Jerry applied for a position with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office. That fateful decision ultimately led him to the two loves of his life - a redheaded coworker named Mary ("Rosie") Gallagher and a deep passion for public service and law enforcement. Following a two-year deployment to Germany with the United States Army, Jerry returned to the FBI and married his beloved Mary. Jerry earned his bachelor's degree at Pace University at night while working full-time during the day and starting his family, and he became a Special Agent in 1964. Jerry later received a Masters of Arts in Criminal Justice from George Washington University in 1978.



Jerry, Mary, and their young family moved several times with the FBI. Jerry's impressive career included investigating civil rights violations in Atlanta, criminal violations at a military base in Alabama, and aircraft hijackings in New York. Jerry also served as an instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, headed the FBI office in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and served as an Assistant Section Chief over the National Crime Information Center. After retiring from the FBI in 1989, Jerry continued to work on law enforcement matters and automobile car theft with the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the D.C. Department of Insurance. Jerry led federal and state initiatives to standardize and augment vehicle identification information to help reduce car thefts.



Jerry was a hard-working, kind, and gentle soul who welcomed everyone he met with an Irish twinkle in his eye and a story or two. He deeply loved his family, and nothing made him happier than spending time with his wife, their five children and twelve grandchildren, and extended family. He will be greatly missed.



Jerry was preceded in death by his parents James and Margaret, his sisters Mary and Peggy Ann, and his son General James F. Smith. He is survived by Mary, his wife of 63 years, as well as four of their children: Maureen Clendening (Harry), Patricia Smith, Stephen Smith, and Kelly Wardell (Steven). Jerry is also survived by his daughter-in-law Jennifer Smith and 12 grandchildren.



In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to share a delicious meal and perhaps some butter pecan ice cream with your loved ones in celebration of Jerry's wonderful life.



A visitation will be held at Fairfax Memorial Home on Tuesday, October 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass will be held at Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, Virginia on Wednesday, October 19 at 10 a.m, followed by a burial at Quantico National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.