Robert T. Smith

Robert Thor Smith, 85, of Buzzards Bay, MA passed away unexpectedly at The Royal Nursing home of Fairhaven, on December 16, 2021. He was born September 4, 1936 in Somerville, MA to the late Lillian and Carlton Smith. He married his high school sweetheart, Helen Smith (Wallace) and spent 64 loving years together.

Bob graduated Bourne High School in 1954. Two weeks after graduation he joined the US Marine Corp with 4 of his classmates and served in the Marine Corp in the second air wing in Jacksonville, FL, Memphis, TN and Cherry Point, NC. He was released from active duty in June of 1956 and served 5 years in inactive reserve. Bob was very proud to be a United States Marine.

Bob attended UMASS, Cape Cod Community College and Northeastern University. He was on the Bourne Police Dept from 1958 to 1963. He then became a property insurance adjuster with the General Adjustment Bureau and later was employed with Friedline and Carter Adjustment Co. in Hyannis. After retirement, Bob became a part-time property inspector for Barnstable County Insurance Co.

Bob’s greatest joys in life were spending time with his family. He was a father who was dependable, loving and supportive. He could often be found coaching or cheering on his children and their Bourne Canalman teammates at the ice hockey rink, baseball field, track or field hockey field. Later in life, “Gumpy” as he was fondly referred to, would spend countless hours carving pumpkins, playing legos, shooting baskets and building sandcastles with his grandchildren, Jessie and Jett. He and his wife loved

adventures; they traveled and cruised from Alaska to the Caribbean, swam with stingrays, parasailed, walked on a glacier, and flew in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon, along with many walks along the Cape Cod Canal.

Bob was the commissioner and coach of Bourne Little League, Director and coach of Bourne Youth Hockey, Member of Bourne Jaycees and served as member and chairman of Bourne Recreation Committee. He organized parades, 4th of July activities and donated many hours to the local Bourne TV channel. He was a prominent and well-respected figure in the town of Bourne.

Bob was predeceased by his son, Michael Robert Smith and sisters Beverly Pavelko and Norma Jean Crawford. He is survived by his son Daniel E. Smith of FL, daughter-in-law, Penthea (Attaya) Smith of Bourne, Daughter Linda (Smith) Gorman and son-in-law Dale Gorman of Wareham, two grandchildren Jessica Smith and Jett Gorman, brother Allen F. Smith and sister-in-law Sandra Smith of Georgia and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 21st from 4pm - 6pm at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd., Bourne, MA with a Funeral Service starting at 6 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22nd with a procession to Oakland Grove Cemetery.