WESTFIELD – Daniel J. Smith passed away at the age of 88 and is at peace in the Eternal Winners Circle. Daniel was born in Holyoke, MA to John Henry Smith and Ruth Dillon Smith, their third son. Older brothers were Charles F. and John Henry, and his younger sisters are Ruth Delores Cognac and Noreen Evelyn Koehler.
He attended Blessed Sacrament School, Holyoke High School and Westfield State College where he received both B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. degrees. He served in the U S Army for 3 years where he was in the Old Guard of the Honor Guard Company, Fort Myer, Arlington, VA.
Daniel taught math for 17 years and was the Executive Director of the Westfield Housing Authority for 15 years. Daniel was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church of Westfield and a very active member of the parish. He was very involved in the Westfield community. He was past president of the Westfield Education Association, a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Long-Range School Planning Committee. He was a past president of the Red Cross, the Sara Gillett Elderly Services, Westfield Community Development Corporation, and the Western Massachusetts Executive Directors Association of Housing Authorities. He was a commissioner of the Westfield Housing Authority, the Westfield Gas and Electric Board and the Board of Voter Registrations. Daniel served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA and was a trustee of the Shurtleff Children’s Services. He is a life member of the National Education Association, the Knights of Columbia, Elks Lodge, and the Sons of Erin.
He was predeceased by his wife Consuello B. Smith in 2023. He leaves two sons, Sean P. Smith of Westfield and Joel P. Smith and his granddaughter Emilia Grace Smith of Cary, NC.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church in Westfield followed by Military Honors at 11 a.m. at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican Nuns, 1430 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA 01089. www.firtionadams.com