Ian C. Smith

Ian Smith passed away October 9, 2021, in his beloved home in Middleboro, MA which he helped build and lived in for 37 years. He was born in Blackburn, England on October 17, 1948, to Winifred and Frank Smith. His parents immigrated to America in 1950 and resided in Ocean Grove, NJ where his sister Alexandra was born in 1952. Ian and his parents became U.S. citizens and Ian's uncle Jack also came to America. Ian was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and uncle. Ian kept in touch with an aunt and his cousins who still reside in Cambridge, England. Ian attended two years of college in New Jersey after high school and then was drafted into the Army, where he was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. Ian served as morning reports clerk at headquarters company, 18th Engineer Battalion. He earned the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service from July 1970 to October 1971 and was honorably discharged. After his time in the military, Ian remained in Massachusetts and completed a teaching degree in English at Bridgewater State University. Teaching jobs were difficult to procure at that time, so Ian sought employment with the U.S. Government, first in the Social Security Administration and, a few years later, as a Postal employee where he worked for 34 years until his retirement in January 2013. Ian loved many things. He loved playing first racquetball, which is how he met his wife Terri, and then tennis. He continued playing tennis until the time of his passing. He also loved traveling and visited many places including Hawaii, Alaska, England, Australia, Germany, Italy, and Israel. He enjoyed reading, music, movies, theater, history, and gardening. He was also an avid collector of figurines, patches, and ornaments. Ian is survived by his wife Terri of 37 years, his daughter Kirsten Congrove and her husband Matthew, and their twin daughters Katla and Harper. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, November 13, 2021, from 12-4 pm at the Loon Pond Lodge in the historic Ted Williams park in Lakeville, MA on 28 Precinct Street. A light buffet lunch will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ian's memory to Easter Seals, the American Cancer Society, or the Gary Sinise Foundation.