Peter J. Smith

He leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, Eileen Smith, his devoted family, Tom and Deanna Smith of Rapid City, SD, Anne Greene of New City, NY, Eileen Dolson of Campbell Hall, NY, Peter and Kathy Smith of Baldwin, NY, 10 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Born in the Bronx to Peter Smith and Anne Connelly, he was a proud New Yorker and took great joy in his Irish heritage all of his life.

Pete spent his early years in the Bronx and was a graduate of Rice High School in NYC. After high school he attended Fordham University and graduated with a degree in business and later went on to earn two master's degrees from Hunter College.

He served overseas in the United States Army from 1955-1957. Pete began a distinguished career in education. He started his teaching career at Clark Junior High School in the Bronx, teaching Math and Phys-Ed. In 1961 he relocated to New City, NY to accommodate a growing family. After arriving in Rockland County, he began teaching in the Nanuet School District, ultimately serving as the Assistant Principal and Principal at George Miller Elementary School for over 25 years. After retiring he was characterized by many as the “Rock” of the Nanuet School District.

Pete enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the game of baseball. Some of his fondest memories were of playing ball in the park with his brother and neighborhood friends. Later in life this love of baseball transitioned into a career as a professional baseball scout in 1962 for the Houston Colt 45’s, Houston Astros and then the New York Mets in 1970. In 1987, Pete received the Turk Karam Award, which honored him as Major League Baseball’s Scout of the Year. He also served as the President of the Hot Stove League. Pete scouted numerous future major leaguers throughout his career and after nearly 20 years was finally rewarded with a World Series ring when the New York Mets won the 1986 Championship.

Pete was predeceased by his mother, father, brother Patrick and his wife Rosemary, and son-in-law Michael Greene.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 31 from 2:00-4:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, 321 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 1st at 10:00 am at St. Augustine’s Church, 140 Maple Ave, New City, NY 10956. A Christian burial will follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, 36 West Nyack Rd, Nanuet, NY. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, NY.