Llewellyn Cecil Smith

He was born on October 31, 1929, in Howland, Maine, to the late William Marshall Smith, a World War I veteran and Canadian soldier, and Dorothy Lillian Pitt, an English lady from London, England. They settled in Howland until he was twelve. During these early years, they heated with wood, had electricity, but no running water. They were able to obtain water from their neighbor’s well and establish an outhouse. The family moved to Congress Street in Portland to join two elder siblings who had secured an apartment where they could live together. He worked in a variety of jobs in Portland during high school to help support his family, including part-time work in a lumber yard and at Casco Bay Ferry Lines.

Lew graduated from Portland High School in 1947. On July 1st, 1950, he married the love of his life, Dolores “Dodie” L. Smith (Smith was her maiden name). Lew and Dodie’s family grew over the next few years to include three boys, Richard, Robert, and Stephen. In 1954, they bought a house in the Riverton Section of Portland for the grand sum of $6,000, where they would raise their three sons. Here, they planted a large vegetable garden for the winter. Any extra was put out at the end of the driveway for the neighbors to take for free. Lew and Dodie were married for 59 years until she died in 2009.

Lew is also a veteran of the US Army, serving for three years during the Korean War from 1950-1953. In 1956, Lew was hired by the Portland Fire Department, which began a 20-year career. These years saw him through many tragic fires while making lifelong friends. He retired in 1976 as a District Chief. After retiring and with the support of the family and community, Lew ran and won a seat on the Portland City Council, where he served for nine years. During his time on the city council, he helped shape some of the iconic growth in Portland - the Barron Center, the Troubh Ice Arena, the Franklin Towers, and the Fish Pier. He was also elected by the council to serve two one-year terms as Mayor. During his time as mayor, he met President Carter and his wife Rosalyn during a visit they made to Portland. When Lew found out that Rosalyn’s maiden name was Smith, he shared the story Dodie had told him. In the beginning, everyone was a Smith until they sinned, then they had to take another name. Both the president and his wife had a good laugh.

At the end of his city council tenure, Lew was asked to be a mediator for couples seeking divorce. Lew enjoyed this work immensely and was very good at helping couples resolve differences. He was asked to start the Maine Divorce Mediation Services and was glad to help on this project. It eventually came to pass that the services were established in other courts.

Some of Lew’s hobbies and pastimes included woodworking, boating, tinkering with cars, card games, and his beloved pets. He was an accomplished woodworker, making furniture, board games, and toys. He and Dodie loved to boat around the Casco Bay Islands. They had many pets, including beloved dogs, cats, a backyard pigeon, and a hamster named Squeaker, to name a few.

After Dodie’s passing, Lew began a relationship with an old friend, Theresa Mancini. In 2012, they were married. Lew sold his house and moved in with Theresa. They enjoyed the large living room and feeding the squirrels and birds from the back deck. Eventually, they moved to Ashton Gardens, a senior living complex. Unfortunately, Theresa suffered a stroke and eventually needed to enter the Barron Center for more care. Lew would bring her flowers regularly. She died in November 2021.

Lew is survived by his three sons Richard and his wife Geri of Newmarket, NH, Robert and his wife Michelle of Venice, FL, Stephen and his companion Diana McCain of Scarborough, ME; Nine grandchildren, Hayley and her fiancé Adam Dion of Chelsea, MA, Derek and his wife Lydia of Brentwood, NH, Kevin of Cambridge, MA, Jennifer Sawicki and her husband Eric of Lancaster, New York, Daniel and his wife Hana of Boulder, CO, Kaitlyn and her husband Donald of Jewett, Connecticut, Gregory Wetmore and his wife Marisa of Ellicott City, Maryland, Brian of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Matthew of Vietnam, Melissa and Angel Soutuyo of Portland. Numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his parents, brothers Ronald and Richard, and his sister Francine Pecci.

Visitation will be held from 10 am – 12 pm on January 8, 2026 at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, where a short service will immediately follow at 12 pm. Burial with Military Honors and a few final words will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland. A reception lunch will follow at Bruno’s Restaurant in Portland.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Lew’s online guest book.