Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Gerald Allyn Smith was born in 1938, in Gloucester, Massachusetts, to parents Antoinette and Bruce Smith. Known as Jerry, he had four siblings: Bruce, Frank, Sharon, and Jack. When he was very young, his father was killed during WWII while serving on a U-boat. It was difficult for the entire family. During his younger years, Jerry often spent time with his uncle going lobster fishing on the waters off Massachusetts. He enjoyed checking the lobster traps. In school, he was an avid reader enjoying ancient history, astronomy, and art books. Jerry was also creatively talented and won an art scholarship.

After graduating from high school at the young age of 18, Jerry voluntarily joined the United States Air Force. He was based for a short time in Roswell, New Mexico, with the 509th Bomb Wing Squadron, where he taught special weapons classes. As a very intelligent man who was well-read, he earned a high clearance with access to classified information. Jerry was sent overseas and stationed in England for six years. His location in England changed his life forever. One night, he met a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Marlena and he asked her to dance. The couple dated for seven months and married on July 3, 1957, at Church of Our Lady & The English Martyrs, in Cambridge. They exchanged the traditional vows which they would honor the rest of their lives together.

More than a year later, the couple welcomed a daughter into the world and named her Allison. Jerry was thrilled to become a father. Family was so important to Jerry that he declined a position with the Air Force in Iceland and focused on the future. He returned to the United States and was honorably discharged in New York. With only $75 in his pocket, he set off to search for the perfect home for his family. He got on a Greyhound bus and sat next to a couple with a baby from Glendale, California. They told him it was a nice little town. He stayed on that bus until it arrived on San Fernando Road in Glendale.

In 1962, his wife and his daughter left England and joined him in Glendale. While Marlena was able to transfer her job with an insurance company from England to the Los Angeles office, Jerry found a job as an expeditor at ITT General Controls. Without a car or extra money, for six weeks he walked on foot from Glendale to Burbank each day to and from work. Jerry was always a hard worker. His motto: "First to arrive, last to leave." When Dave McFarland, a work friend, found out about a delay in his pay, he loaned him money and a car. The two became good friends.

When he learned of a new position with Steiney & Co. Electrical Contractors, he went to the library to research the terminology. Self-taught, Jerry landed the job. With more income, their daughter attended the private Peter Pan school, as education was a priority. The family also moved into a two bedroom furnished apartment for $75 a month on Olive Avenue and they saved enough money to buy a brand new 1962 pale blue Pontiac Catalina. Over the years, Jerry rose to the ranks of Vice President. When a headhunter approached him with a job at Boise Cascade to start an electrical company "Power Line Erectors," a subsidiary of Boise, he accepted and became President and CEO of the company, which erected electrical power lines. With the support of his family, Jerry and John Waller invested money into starting their own company S & W Electrical Contractors, Inc., which completed high-end jobs such as electricals for traffic signals, freeway lighting, airport runway lighting, and fiber optics. Truly, Jerry was a successful, self-made man.

Over the years, Jerry and his family spent time traveling to England, Hawaii, and enjoyed many cruises. An active man, Jerry enjoyed skiing, golfing, and bowling. The best part of his life was always family. He loved Marlena's family in England so very much. His pride was overflowing when it came to his immediate family as well. In fact, Jerry accompanied Marlena, along with his daughter Allison and granddaughter Claire, when she received the MBE from the Queen of England as a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her work as President of The British Home in Sierra Madre. Jerry gave a wonderful speech to family recognizing his wife's high honor.

Jerry also held grand pride in his daughter, Allison, with whom he shared a special connection. Forever the teacher, he shared many things with her about life and the world. They took many family vacations during her childhood that were both fun and educational. They loved to talk, with topics ranging from the sea to the stars to ancient civilizations to travel. Most of all, though, Jerry and Allison shared a wicked sense of humor, and they both loved a good prank and a great laugh. Her greatest gift to him was his only grandchild, Claire. He shared his love of reading with Claire, who now attends NYU. Jerry always enjoyed being able to take Claire to the bookstore to browse or buy books, and the two were constantly exchanging letters and stories. Jerry was absolutely thrilled with Clarie's interests in reading and writing, so proud of her achievements. In his final days, he referred to Allison as his devoted daughter and Claire as his Princess granddaughter.

Jerry Smith was a quiet giver his entire life. He didn't boast about those he helped, but he reached out and gave to others without notice. When his gardener had his truck and equipment stolen, Jerry bought him a truck and equipment so he could work again. When workers needed transportation, he got them transportation. Every year he took his entire crew and all of his employees to Las Vegas by Charter Bus. As a huge supporter of the Save the Children program, Jerry helped to support 20 kids in need. When family friend, Darlene, had cancer, he moved her into the family home so she wouldn't die alone. He once won about $10,000 in a lottery in England, but he always wanted to win a huge lottery in the United States to help other people. It was his dream to help other people.

While he was very humble about his givings, he was appreciative of everything and everyone in his life. He believed education was the key to everyone's future. Jerry Smith will best be remembered as an intelligent, caring, generous man with a great sense of humor. While his family believes he is at peace, they will miss everything about him, especially his wisdom. His advice to everyone would be to keep your head high, carry on, and make a difference in the world. His favorite saying: "Education will set you free."

There are so many family members who loved Jerry, especially, his wife, Marlena; daughter Allison; granddaughter Claire; his siblings Bruce, Frank, Sharon, and Jack; brothers and sisters-in-law Alan, Sandra, Graham, Christopher, Margaret, and Patrick; Claire's father Ramsay and her other grandparents Philip and Jeannie Sullivan. Jerry also touched the lives of many friends over the years, especially, long-time friends Peter, Linda, Lynn, and "The Boys" who shared many wonderful lunches, Johnny, Floyd, Peacock, and Peter, also his so-called adopted son Simon, and his parents John and Pat Wright.

Memorial donations are welcome in Jerry's name to the Providence Saint Joseph Foundation Nursing Fund.

Marlena Smith--wife
Allison Smith--daughter