Edward James Smatt

Edward James “EJ” Smatt was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 28, 1932, to Edward E. Smatt and Helen Rosalie Kasal. All grandparents emigrated from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) to the Cleveland area in the 1800’s. EJ was very proud of his Czech roots and spent his early summers with grandparents and extended family at the family cabin dubbed “Little Bohemia.” EJ attended Brush High school from 1946-1950 where he began dating Sue Kissel, who eventually became his wife. As a senior at Brush High School, “Eddie” was voted “Most Happy Go Lucky” and went on to graduate from Kent State University with a BS in Industrial Technology in 1954. While at Kent State EJ became a proud member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, where he could often be heard playing the piano to entertain his fellow Delt brothers and their guests. After college, EJ joined the Army and served from 1954-1956 at Fort Knox, KY, Fort Devens, MA and Fort Huachuca, AZ (where he taught electrical engineering).

In 1956, following his tour in the Army, “Eddie” and Sue were married in Cleveland, Ohio and relocated to Baltimore, where they started a family. There EJ began his career as an aerospace engineer at the Martin Company (later Martin Marietta and now Lockheed Martin). While working at Martin, EJ utilized the GI Bill to attend the University of Maryland Law School, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1961. In 1965, EJ accepted a position supporting NASA’s famed Apollo Space Program at General Electric, where he gradually worked his way into a corporate leadership role. In 1966 Sue and EJ moved to St. Davids, PA and continued to grow their family while EJ furthered his career at GE.

In 1973, EJ transitioned to the insurance industry as the Director of Corporate Development and Planning at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana, at which time he and Sue moved their family to Indianapolis. In 1976, EJ was recruited and selected as the President of Blue Shield Insurance of Maryland. In the late 1970’s, EJ transitioned to Equitable Life Insurance, where he earned many awards (including Agent of the Year in 1997) and several others during the course of his career. His successes and reputation as a customer-focused leader paved the way to a very successful privately-owned insurance business, EJ Smatt Associates in the 1980’s. EJ Smatt Associates specialized in employee benefits for its clients until EJs retirement in the late 1990’s. The move to Maryland also reunited Sue and “Ed” with many close friends and brought them closer to the beaches of Ocean City (which was a favorite for both of them).

EJ had many other passions as well…he was an avid horse player and loved his time at the racetrack (Pimlico, Laurel, Penn National, Saratoga, Tampa Bay Downs, and Santa Anita Park were among his favorites). He also owned several racehorses and was a very successful handicapper. He loved to fish, garden, watch golf, and paint, and many of his works are on display in his daughter's homes. EJ had a deep affinity for jazz music and Jimmy Buffett. He continued to entertain his friends and family on the piano, playing a favorite, The Nearness of You, until as recently as the week before he passed. He loved the beach, particularly Ocean City (where he owned a condo on 40th street) and St. Maarten (where he spent every month of February for 30 years well into his eighties... even participating in some of their regattas. He was also a true Orioles fan, holding season tickets for many years, and belonged to the prestigious Baltimore Engineers Club, where he hosted many a brunch for family and friends.

EJ was a regular at several Preakness parties as well as the Maryland Million and was known around the horse racing community for his incredible talent for picking a winner, and his generosity to everyone on and off the track. He loved a good happy hour, Papas was his favorite! He was an outgoing, creative, musical, intellectual, and fun-loving father, grandfather and friend to many. His deepest love, however, was for his family, including his late wife of over 30 years, his five daughters (four who are remaining), three sons-in-law, eight grandchildren and one niece, who he cherished and with whom he unceasingly shared his wit, wisdom, time, talent and treasure. At 93 years young, EJ lived a full and vibrant life that touched all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

EJ passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was the beloved father of Jennifer Smatt, Kimberly Gorman and her husband Ron; Sarah McGrain and her husband Tom, Rebecca Daugherty and her husband Pat and the late Lizabeth Smatt; loving former husband of the late Sue K. Smatt; devoted grandfather of T.J., Alison and Johnny McGrain, Megan, Kristin and Braden Daugherty, Mia and Paige Gorman; dear brother of the late Evelyn McCormack and Ann Hudec; treasured uncle of Mary Hagan and her husband Stephen, Beverly Bellis and Danny McCormack. EJ is also survived by other loving family and friends.

The family will receive friends at the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 6 to 8 PM.

EJ’s life will be celebrated at Lemmon Funeral Home on Friday, August 15, 2025, starting at 11:30AM.

All who attend are encouraged to wear fun bright beach colors or their favorite Hawaiian shirt to both the visitation and the service.

Please consider donating in EJ’s memory to the Kerr County Texas/Camp Mystic flood victims or any charity you wish that supports children/youth. The loss of young life greatly affected EJ since he experienced losing his own daughter Lizabeth when she was just 11 years old.

A private inurnment service will be held at a later date at the Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore, Maryland.