Bradford Ernest Smith, a longtime Rye resident, died peacefully at The Osborn Pavilion on October 18, 2017. He was 89.
Born on September 1, 1928 in Worchester, Mass., he was the son of Gertrude and Ernest Smith. He grew up in Bayside, Queens, and later attended Harvard University from which he graduated in 1949.
He worked as a reporter for several newspapers before he was called up to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After serving his country, Mr. Smith went to work for a number of corporations, including: CBS, Bell Telephone, Mobil, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In many of these positions he worked as a journalist and was responsible for preparation of promotional materials and reports. He also had the opportunity to work behind the camera in preparing various programs for broadcast as both a scriptwriter and director.
In 1958, he married Justine (Tina) McGann and they moved to Rye, where they resided for over 50 years.
Mr. Smith was an avid sailor, skier, swimmer, and traveler. For many years he could be found at the helm of his Herreshoff “S” Class sailboat, <Nereid>, participating in weekend races on Long Island Sound. He and his wife traveled all over the globe by air and sea and visited many countries in South America, Europe, and the Middle East.
After retiring in 1986, he dedicated his remaining time to supporting his wife and family. It was then that he began to develop his writing and pursue other avenues of literature. He prided himself on being a voracious reader and critic of the written word.
“Brad was a kind and inquisitive rebel always searching for the truth,” said his family. After his wife’s death, he became an active member of the community at The Osborn, where he continued to write and develop his passion for playing the piano.
Mr. Smith is survived by his brother, Harold Smith; his sister, Jeanne Smith; his sons, Gregory Bradford Smith (Jodi) and Martin Rene McGann (Lee); and five grandchildren.
A memorial for Mr. Smith will be held at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, N. Y., on Sunday, November 19 at noon. All are welcome to attend and celebrate his life.
Donations in Brad Smith’s memory may be made to The Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road, Rye, New York 10580.
