Laforest C. Smith

YMCA President, Motivational Speaker, Outdoor Enthusiast

YARMOUTHPORT – LaForest Clifford Smith Jr., age 87, died January 13 at home. Mr. Smith was born in Pittsfield, MA, graduating in 1943 from Pittsfield High School where he captained the 1942 football team.

During World War II he served most of his three and a half years in the Navy as an air to air gunnery instructor at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. He graduated from Springfield College in the class of 1950 with a B.S. Degree in Group Psychology and Community Organization. From January 1950 to July 1986 he was a YMCA Professional serving YMCA’s in Harrisburg and Camp Hill, PA, Columbus and Newark, Ohio and the Oranges, Maplewood and West Essex, NJ.

Mr. Smith is credited with having pioneered the West Shore YMCA, Camp Hill, PA YMCA, the Galion, Ohio YMCA, and YMCA’s in Maplewood, NJ and in Newton, NJ.

He retired in 1986 after serving for eighteen years as president of the YMCA’s of the Oranges, Maplewood and West Essex, NJ.

Mr. Smith represented the Program Associates Speakers Bureau as a motivational speaker and seminar director.

He was a lover of outdoor activities involved with sailing a 23’ sloop, skiing, camping on the family owned camp site at Lake Eaton, NY and hiking in the Berkshires and Adirondacks, and was a member of Chequessett Golf Club.

He is survived by his wife Judith of Yarmouth Port, son Peter and wife Ilene of Old Bridge, NJ, daughter Deborah Kuhns of Charlotte, NC, son David and wife Catherine and granddaughter Elizabeth, all of Wingate, NC and sister Eileen Sprague of Yarmouth Port, along with several nieces and nephews.

In accordance with his wishes there will be no services. He will be cremated and buried in the family plot at the Orleans Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to: Springfield College, Office of Development, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109-3797 or to The Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 255 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601