Ronald Craig Smith was born in Brooklyn Jewish Hospital on August 13, 1943, to the late Robert Arlington Smith, Sr and Dorothy Louise Smith.

He grew up in Brooklyn and was educated in the Brooklyn public school system at PS 44 and PS 3 (elementary), Macon Junior High School 258, and graduated from Wingate High School in 1962. Ron, sometimes called “Lumpsey” by his late beloved Aunt, Mildred Jackson, attended Cornerstone Baptist Church Sunday School. In the community, he was an Eagle Scout, at Troop 219 and played drums in the troop drum & bugle corps.

As a youngster, Ron was shy and quiet and occupied his time cultivating his passion for basketball. During the summer of 1959, while working as a delivery boy at a local grocer, he used his weekly earnings to purchase bags of cement, sand, and a hoop, and, with the help of his grandfather, Andrew Boney, constructed a small basketball court in the family’s Halsey Street backyard. There, he honed his playing skills while providing the rest of his brothers and friends with a private court and his family with an entertainment area. Along with those basketball skills, his confidence as an individual also flourished.

Ron was a man who developed a personal style early in life. He was meticulous in his appearance, loved to dress well, and often had his suits custom made. As with his appearance, he was very structured and organized concerning his surroundings and lifestyle. Above all, he thrived on order and required the same in others.

His first professional job was in the mailroom of Stein Hall (now Celanese), a chemical company. Over the years he worked for such organizations as C.L.I.C.K., a Brooklyn Navy Yard employment recruiter and Central Brooklyn Model Cities as a site administrator. After working for various construction management firms for over 35 years as a mechanical estimator, he eventually retired from Pavarini-McGovern..

In 1964, he married Joan Johnson, a union that produced Darren Leroy Smith and Lisa Michelle Smith, who survive him.

In 1977, he met Nancy (Marie) Wright. The two eventually married in 1991, maintaining a loving relationship for 47 years. They produced two sons, Damon and Dernard (Ahmir) and eventually moved their family to New Jersey in 1990. Ronald was a loving family man who supported his wifes businesses and played a big role in coaching and supporting his children’s sports activities.

Ron was a passionate homer for NY sports teams, his first love being the NY Knicks. He also rooted heavily for the Mets and NY Football Giants. He later developed a second love for tennis. He was an avid weekend player who belonged to several tennis clubs, attended many US Open tennis tournaments, and became an instructor who gave private lessons to adults and youth in the community of South Plainfield, New Jersey.

In his later years, feeling the call for more spirituality in his life, he joined New Vision Ministries in Plainfield, NJ, under the tutorship of Rev. Sharon Walker. He worked with the church’s men’s group and in its prison and travel ministries. His membership led to his becoming a church deacon. He was a dedicated member of that institution until his health began to fail.

After a long battle with cancer, Ron passed away quietly during the early hours of June 8. He leaves behind his wife Marie, sons Damon, Dernard(Ahmir) and Darren and daughter, Lisa; grandchildren Dakota, Mason and Jazz; sisters Claudette and Karen; brothers Robert, Michael, Preston and Jeffrey; nieces Jahmila, Kim, Jwyanna, Jonelle; nephews Mark, Randy, Wayne, Kai, Derek, Javon, Kyle; Aunt Diane Graves; first cousins Warren, Bradley, Andrea, Andrew, Shelly, Chrystal, Lillian, Candy, Rodney; an extended layer of 2nd cousins, numerous grandnieces and grandnephews and a host of extended family and friends.

With Love,

 The Family

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