John "Jack" Joseph Smith - Obituary

ohn “Jack” Smith, 94, of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2026, surrounded by love at Spring Arbor of Crofton. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 1, 1932, to Edward and Margaret (Donnelly) Smith. Jack grew up with a deep love of family and fun, attending many a Brooklyn Dodgers game. Jack worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard before being drafted into the U.S. Army where he proudly served during the Korean War. He then attended The City College of New York and went on to a successful career as an electrical engineer with Bell Atlantic, AT&T, and ultimately Lucent Technologies, from which he retired. Jack spent most of his life on Long Island, in Wantagh, New York, with his beloved wife, Joan (Moravus), and their daughters, Meg and Clare. In 2011, Jack and Joan moved to Heritage Harbour in Annapolis to be closer to their grandchildren. They enjoyed golfing, participating in activities at the Lodge, and taking walks at Quiet Waters Park. After Joan’s passing in 2022, Jack continued to cherish the life and memories they shared. Jack was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Annapolis and formerly of St. Frances de Chantal in Wantagh. For the past three years, he was a resident of Spring Arbor of Crofton Assisted Living, where he became a cherished member of the community. He spent his final days surrounded by people who cared for him deeply. Jack will be remembered for his gentle spirit, kind heart, quiet strength, and determination. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who treasured his family & friends above all else. Jack is survived by his daughters, Margaret “Meg” Wallace and her husband, Jon, and Clare Kerrigan and her husband, John; his grandchildren, Jack and Isaac Wallace and Colleen and Emily Kerrigan; and his sister’s children, Michael, Margaret “Peggy”, and Robert Moore. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan; his brother, Edward Smith; and his sister, Theresa “Lorraine” Moore. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, September 18 at 9:00 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road Annapolis, MD. A hospitality reception will immediately follow at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place at 11:30 a.m. at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bideawee Animal Shelter . Bideawee, which means ‘stay a while’ in Scottish, is an impactful nonprofit in Wantagh where the Smith family dog, Smitty, was adopted in the 1980s. If choosing to contribute, please indicate that the donation is in memory of Jack. Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.