Steven John Smith

Steve was born on Long Island in New York. He grew up in The Village of Hamburg. Steve joined the USAF and served as a Fire Protection Specialist aka Firefighter. Stationed at several large bases he spent many hours on the flight line on the ready to fight landing emergency and even local military aircraft crashes. During this time he even earned a BS in Engineering from Southern Illinois at Carbondale.

After his honourable discharge from the USAF he turned to other interests in serving people with disabilities. He started as a prosthetic technician but soon afterwards attended Northwestern Med school to become certified as a Prosthetist. He’s career flourished and he also became an Orthotist. Over his 40 plus years as an Orthotist Prosthetist Steve owned and operated several O & P businesses in Central Florida. He served Central Florida residences including his favorite, children, for over 40 years. Steve was loved by his patients far and wide. After Covid, Steve closed his practice and went to work at the VA in Orlando in the Prosthetic department.

Steve loved life and had enjoyed being active. Soon after volunteering as an assistant coach for the Orlando Orange Wheels wheelchair basketball team he met his wife, Brenda. They married a few years later. Over a decade he supported and worked with numerous groups helping people with disabilities thrive through sports. He was president of the Orlando Wheelchair Games and coached Brenda in her wheelchair sports, including helping Brenda with her therapeutic horseback riding. His favourite personal activities included sailing, boating, scuba diving and was quite a good bowler. Steve and Brenda even hit the road on weekends riding his Harley and pulling Brenda's wheelchair in a trailer behind his Harley as she rode the Ridley trike he had customised for her. Great fun days!

For the past decade he and Brenda slowed down just a bit but took up another interest. They have been Purple Martin Landlords, providing nesting gourds for the beautiful migratory birds from the Amazon. Steve put up several racks of nesting gourds on his beloved Bear Lake home. He would lower those massive racks with nesting gourds and do nest checks on the chicks while Brenda recorded the data for the Purple Martin Conservation Association. It was a lot of work but truly a labor of love.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Robert Smith, his other, Ethel Townsend and his sister, Marjorie Smith. He leaves his wife, Brenda and four children, Steve Jr., Nicholas, Heather and Elizabeth (Beth) as well as eight grandchildren.

Steve loved life and always felt proud that he could help others. While he will be missed beyond comprehension he is now free of earthly constraints and surely sailing with a warm breeze at his back.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 1:30pm with a Memorial Service to follow at 2:00pm. Steve's committal where Military Honors will be rendered will be at 3:00pm in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

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