Captain Stanley Lowell Smith, U.S.C.G. Ret., of 59 Pearl Street, Mystic, died with gracious dignity on May 27, 2007.
He was born in Los Angeles on December 8, 1913 to Albert Pruitt and Alice Battelle Smith. He was predeceased by his brother, Albert Elton Smith.
He is survived by Louise Matthews Smith, his wife of 67 years, and his five children and their spouses, Stanley JR and Lois Smith of Stockton, CA, Susan and Walter Keach of Mystic, Sara and David Holdridge of Ledyard, Shirley Dougherty and Edward Kissner of Burlington, CT, and Steven and Mary Smith of Stonington, ME. He is also survived by his five grandsons and their spouses, John and Meg Holdridge of Peace Dale, RI, Stanley III and Debbie Smith of Carlsbad CA, Jeffrey Bernier of Mystic, Daniel III and Jamie Dougherty of Bristol CT, and RJ and Ruthie Smith of Ledgewood, NJ. Stanley is also survived by his five granddaughters and their spouses, Paige and John Boles of Elk Grove, CA., Julie Bernier and Bill Healey of Waltham, MA., Jenny and Rich Catrambone of Warwick, RI, Vicky Holdridge of Boulder CO. and Allison Dougherty of Somerville, MA, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
He attended public schools in Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. He then received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY and graduated in 1937 as a commissioned 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. After WWII, Captain Smith transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he taught math and coached football. He became head of the Mathematics Department and was appointed Dean of Academics in 1961. At his retirement in 1966 he was awarded the Legion of Merit by the President of the United States.
He became the director of the Avery Point Branch of the University of Connecticut after having taught there for several years. He retired in 1975.
Throughout his life he exemplified the values of the West Point motto: Duty, Honor, Country. Stan was active in community service since 1946. He was President of the Pequot Council of Boy Scouts of America, a member of the Board of Trustees at Mystic Noank Library, and a corporator of Lawrence and Memorial Hospitals. He was an active member of the Board of Trustees of the Mystic Community Center. He was active since 1956 in the Mystic Congregational Church serving as Deacon, Trustee, Teacher, and Moderator as well as many other church committees. He was a member and former Commodore of the Masons Island Yacht Club and a member of the Mystic Seaport for over fifty years. Capt. Smith donated his body to Brown University for medical research.
A service celebrating Stan's life will be held at the Mystic Congregational Church on Sat., June 9th, 2007 at 10:30AM. He will be interred in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, NH at a later date.
In lieu of flowers Stan asked that his family and friends consider performing a random act of kindness in his memory.
To send his family a note of remembrance/condolence, please click the link below.