Edward P. Smith

PROVIDENCE - SMITH, Edward P., 83, of Tyndall Avenue, died Wednesday at Elmhurst Extended Care Facility. He was the beloved husband of Barbara M. (Masterson) Smith. Born in Providence on Christmas Eve, 1923, a son of the late Joseph E. and Madge (Lynch) Smith, he was a lifelong city resident. He was a 1942 graduate of Hope High School. He was WWII Navy veteran. Following his military service, he graduated from the former R.I. State College, now known as the University of Rhode Island in 1948. Mr. Smith was the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Bar Association until he retired in 1989. He was the first full time paid state bar association director in New England, and was the second non-lawyer executive director of a state bar association in the nation. During that time he was elected President of the National Association of Bar Executives (an affiliate of the American Bar Association) in 1972, and in 1984 he received the association's "Bolton Award" for professional excellence. Always active in alumni association work, he was elected President of the URI Alumni Association in 1963. He was presented with the "Ram Award" in 1978 for continuous loyal service to both the University and the Alumni Association. An avid historian of the Revolutionary War, he was a Lt. Colonel in the RI Militia, and Adjutant in the Bristol Train of Artillery. His pen and ink biographical portrait drawings were often used as presentation awards to leaders of civic, educational, and professional groups on ceremonial occasions. He was a communicant of St. Pius V Church, and served as a parish advisor to four pastors over 18 years. He was one of the founders and first president of Club Dominicana, a parish social group. Besides his wife, he leaves his children Edward J. "Ted" Smith of Boston, MA, Anne Marie Enderby of Attleboro, MA, and Susan Smith of Los Angeles, CA; a sister Margaret (Smith) Francis of Groton, CT. He was the brother of the late Joseph E. Smith, Jr., and stepson of the late M. Gertrude (Riccius) Crotty Smith. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated WEDNESDAY at 10am in St. Pius V Church, Eaton Street, Providence to which relatives and friends are invited.. Burial, with military honors, will be in St. Francis Cemetery. In lieu of calling hours, family and friends are invited to a gathering celebrating Ed's life on TUESDAY August 7th from 5:30-8:30pm in the Providence Biltmore Hotel. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701, the URI Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1820, Kingston, RI 02881, or the Bristol Train of Artillery, 125 State St., Bristol, RI 02809 in his memory will be appreciated.