Obituary of James R. Smith Jr.

James R. Smith, Jr., a lifelong resident of Port Chester and later Rye Brook, New York, died on October 22, 2019  after a lengthy illness at home with his family.   He was 70 years old.

He was born in 1949 to the late Mary Massinello Smith of Port Chester, NY and James R. Smith, Sr. of the Bronx, NY. A 1967 graduate of Port Chester Senior High School, he was employed by the IBM Corporation for 15 years. He later joined the United Parcel Service and retired after 25 years in 2008. He was a member of Teamsters Local 804.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, JoAnn Romanello Smith. They were married at Holy Rosary Church in 1971; also, his son James Daniel and daughter-in-law Debra and his pride and joy granddaughter, Kaitlin Mary of Port Chester, NY. His son Jim is a firefighter with the FDNY and works with 41 Squad in the South Bronx. His son Shawn resides in Bohemia, NY and works with the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller in the New York Center, Islip, NY.

A beloved sister, Virginia Anne Smith, predeceased him in 1970. She was a Registered Nurse and worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She died in an automobile accident. A sister, Marilyn Smith Grossman, survives him and resides in Juno Beach, FL.

A Vietnam War Combat Veteran, he proudly served with the 25th Infantry Division along the Cambodian border. He participated in numerous combat and reconnaissance operations in both Vietnam and Cambodia and was wounded in action. For his service, he received the following decorations: Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star. Purple Heart, Air Medal Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

Jim was a lifetime member of the 25th Infantry Division Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Catholic War Veterans of the USA and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1576.

Friends May call on Thursday October 24, 2019 between 4:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Graham Funeral Home, 1036 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Corpus Christi Church on Friday October 25, 2019 at 10 AM.  Interment will follow at Greenwood Union Cemetery, Rye, NY.