Gerard F. Smith

He was born on April 5, 1938, the son of Mary Barone Smith and Francis Smith.

Mr. Smith graduated from Forest School in West Haven and then went on to attend five years of private art classes with Birney Lettick, a very famous illustrator and mentor to Gerard. As an artist his paintings have been exhibited worldwide. His private collectors included The Rockefeller Foundation, Lady Sara Churchill (the daughter of Sir Winston Churchill), Burt Reynolds, President Ronald Reagan, Clint Eastwood owns seven paintings and Charlton Heston owns two paintings. Gerard's work was inspired by Andrew Wyeth. Gerard's favorite quote was "I live in my art and the art lives in me." God granted him his wish, Gerard painted up until the day he died.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn C. Smith; his son Jerry Steven Smith and his wife Erica of Uncasville; his daughter Suzanne Marie Evans and her husband Hugh of W. Linn, OR; his sisters Judi Durkin of FL and Kathleen Smith of W. Haven; his grandchildren Alexis Ann and Dylan Steven Smith and Alexandria Marie Evans. He was the nephew of the late Father Edward Smith a LaSallette Priest from Ipswich, MA; Sister Marion Alexis Smith and Sister Edmund Therese Smith, both of the Sisters of Charity who resided at the Mother House in Elizabeth, NJ.

The funeral procession will assemble on Saturday December 31, 2011 at 9am at Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 181 Ocean Ave., New London, and will proceed to a 10am Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Church, Squire St., New London. Burial will follow in Jordan Cemetery, Waterford. Calling hours will be held Friday December 30, 2011, from 2-4pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in his memory may be made to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, 365 Montauk Ave., New London, CT 06320. To sign the on line guest book visit www.fultontherouxnewlondon.com.