Dale James Smith

Dale J. Smith was born in the small rural town of Champion, NY to W. Howard Smith and Evelyn Files Smith, the youngest of four boys.  His childhood was spent in the Thousand Islands area, living in several of the small lakeside towns.   He was an avid Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout at age 16.  After graduating from Cape Vincent High School, he attended Paul Smiths College of the Adirondacks where he graduated with an Associate Degree in Hospitality.  Following graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Jeanette Bidwell.

After graduating from college, he and Jeanette lived in Rochester, NY, where his first child, Mark, was born. In pursuit of his career in hotel/motel management, they moved to Franconia, NH, - ski country- where he worked fall and winter in the hotel business and spring and summer learning the construction trade.  This was followed by a move to Belmont, MA, to work for the Weston Golf Club. His second child, Cheryl, was born while living there. He moved his family to Gloucester in1966 where he developed a love of sailing and owned several sail boats, his last being the 23-foot sloop Aquilo. They also spent time camping and hiking.  As a result, both of his children developed a love of the ocean and the outdoors that followed them through their lives.

He was sent to the Addison Gilbert Hospital, where he worked under contract overseeing the dietary department.   The hospital administrator, Tucker Vye, was so impressed with his work, he bought out his contract.  He remained at the hospital for almost 20 years, holding positions that included purchasing and ending his career there as an Assistant Administrator. During his time at the hospital, he became involved in Gloucester Rotary, eventually rising to President, served on the Board of the YMCA and the Chamber of Commerce, and was Treasurer for St. John’s Episcopal Church.  It was there at Addison Gilbert that Dale met his second wife, Paula Bates.

He left the hospital business in 1981 to begin his own construction company, Smith Builders and Renovators, focusing on renovating many of the old Cape Ann Homes.  He never regretted the move, feeling immediate satisfaction of a job well done, one that would last into the future.  He and Paula built a home in the “Greater Annisquam” area up on the ridge overlooking Ipswich Bay.  He remained involved in Gloucester Rotary.  He was approached by a group of businessmen in Manchester-By-The-Sea to assist in setting up a Rotary and became their inaugural President when the chapter opened.  As his interest in sailing waned, Dale took up golf.   After being left alone one Saturday while Dale played golf, Paula decided to join him in that pastime.  They spent many hours together out on the links, enjoying the activity as part of weekends and vacations.  In addition, downhill and cross-country skiing became favorite winter activities.  They spent many winter weekends with friends skiing in Mt. Washington Valley.  Dale was also an avid hiker.  He and Paula set a goal of completing all 49 4000- footers in NH.  They completed that goal in October of 1993, summiting Mt. Carrigan in light snow.

Winter and construction eventually became a tough combination.  Dale and Paula moved to Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, SC in 2002.  The move proved to be a great decision.  Dale continued his passion for golf, becoming a member of the MGA and joining the Friday Golf Group, where he made many friends and enjoyed friendly competitive golf.  He added another passion by joining the Lowcountry Model Yacht group, where he learned to sail and race remote control sailboats.  He eventually became Commodore, keeping that position for 7 years. The comradery of that group was special.

He had an opportunity to continue hiking when a friend invited them to join him in section-hiking the Appalachian Trail.  For many years, they would head to the mountains 2-3 times per year to hike the trail.  It was a special opportunity to see a beautiful part of the country.

Dale’s favorite vacations were road trips.  They had the opportunity to take several cross-country trips, seeing many of the National Parks and Monuments- including one lasting 100 days and covering 18,500 miles!

In 2015, recovering from the death of his daughter, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to check off one of his “bucket list” activities- assisting in sailing the 49-foot sloop Windfall from Gloucester to the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina, on route to her winter berth in the Bahamas.  The month-long sail was filled with adventures and sharing of special times with Captain Raffi.

In the early years, he continued to do home improvement projects for Sun City residents and joined the Woodworkers Guild, which gave him access to high end woodworking tools. He became the informal “go to “guy in the neighborhood for everything from minor repairs, adjusting irrigation systems, digging up sprinkler heads… he never lost the sense of being an Eagle Scout.  He was always the first to step up to help, no matter what the project.  He was also involved in the Sun City Bird Club, co-leading the organization of the Christmas Bird Count for Sun City for many years.  He became a guide and driver for the Golf Course Nature Tours, sponsored by the Sun City Golf Club.

He led an active life up until his final year, when he was diagnosed with scleroderma, which limited his flexibility and balance, forcing him to give up golf.  He continued to drive for the Nature Tours when needed, but his sensitivity to cold limited that activity as well.  In his time in Sun City, Dale made numerous friends.  He enjoyed going to the Riverbend pool on Friday nights, where he met with “the pool group” for a swim, cocktails and picnic supper.   Sitting in the hot tub overlooking the river was special.  But it was really the friends that brought him back there every week.

His unexpected, rapid death was due to complications of covid.

Dale was predeceased by his daughter Cheryl, who died at age 52 of breast cancer.  He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Paula, his brother Stewart Smith of HI, his son Mark Smith and his wife Sheryl of Gloucester, MA and Rincon, PR, his first wife Jeanette Smith of Gloucester, MA, his two grandchildren, Kyle Smith of Arlington, VA, and Kara Kenyon of Gloucester, MA, their spouses Elise and Brian, and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his brothers William and Richard, and by all of his dogs- Ginger, Ulysses, Winston, Ally and Autumn.

Dale was a good man, one that was rare in his caring and desire to help.  He was the most supportive husband any woman could have and a wonderful friend. His passing will leave a big hole in the lives of those he touched with his presence.

A memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held in Sun City at Riverbend Lodge on March 24th from 1p-4p. There will be a celebration in Gloucester at a date to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Scleroderma Foundation or Grateful Goldens of the Lowcountry.

Dale’s ashes will be returned to Gloucester, where the schooner Windfall will assist in their final dispersal.