CHELMSFORD – John R. Smith, 84, beloved husband of the late Janice L. (Morgan) Smith, died on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Westford House surrounded by his children.

Born in Lowell on February 8, 1932, he was the son of the late Philip and Anna (Gillick) Smith. He was a graduate of Keith Academy. Throughout the years, John held a variety of positions, primarily in sales. Before his retirement, he worked at Lincoln Laboratory for many years.

Mr. Smith was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Chelmsford, but, as a devout Catholic, he enjoyed attending mass throughout the Greater Lowell area. The Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell, where he served as an altar boy when he was young, has always been particularly important to him. He was a long-time lover of golf, and was a member of Longmeadow Golf Club and Vesper Country Club. He enjoyed both playing golf and eventually walking golf holes with his children and grandchildren. Additionally, watching his son Phil play golf, especially in the Lowell City Golf Tournament, brought him great pleasure.

John was an avid follower of most sports including being a lifelong Red Sox fan, loving professional football, and creating a family March Madness bracket every year. He loved following horse races at Rockingham Park and other race tracks. A major pastime of his was playing a variety of card games both with friends and family. The Smith family spent countless hours playing 45’s, cribbage and fan tan. A perennial favorite of his grandchildren was the card game clock. John was also a life-long member of the Lowell Lodge of Elks.

John was known to family and friends as someone they could always turn to. He was caregiver to his brother Brendan and had a special relationship with his many nieces and nephews. John was always looking out for those less fortunate, as evidenced by his continuous search for the poor box in the back of the many churches he visited.
One of his greatest joys was spending time with his seven grandchildren, Emily, Katie, Morgan, Molly, Madison, Owen, and Eilis. He provided for countless fun activities for them including annual trips to Canobie Lake, Seabrook Beach, and Fenway Park. Another favorite pastime was attending their many games, concerts, school events, and theatrical productions.

In addition to his grandchildren, John is survived by his three children; Joanne Tummino and her husband Michael of Maynard, MA; Rosemary Dowd and her husband James of Chelmsford, MA; and Philip Smith and his wife Lynn of Tyngsboro, MA. He is also survived by his sisters Ann Glasheen of Lowell, MA and Mary Currie of Chelmsford, MA and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his special friend Lillian Spink of Tewksbury, MA. He was predeceased by his brothers Patrick, James, Thomas, Father Joe, Bishop Phil, William, Brendan, and Kevin.

Visiting hours Sunday from 4 to 8 pm at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10 o’clock at Immaculate Conception Parish, 3 Fayette St., Lowell.

Interment in St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in John’s memory may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Boston, 18 Canton St., Stoughton, MA 02072.