Obituary of John Norris Smith

Dateline: CLIFTON PARK, NEW YORK JOHN NORRIS SMITH John Norris Smith, 77, of Rexford, NY, beloved husband of Joanna Fotheringham Smith, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at the Baptist Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Scotia, NY. Born in Mattapan, MA, he was the son of the late John Thomas and Irene Mooney Smith. He was married to the deceased Joan Smith. He was the father of Lindalee Pyle Smith of Palm Harbor, FL, and the late Lauralee Smith; stepfather of Keith Fotheringham of Ballston Spa, NY, and Kimberly Ann Fotheringham of Vancouver, WA; brother of Deborah Barrows of West Mansfield, MA, the late Michelle Purcell, and the late Michael Smith; grandfather of Shea Smith, Hudson, FL, Joshua and Trevor Pyle, Palm Harbor, FL; and a niece, Heather Anderson, West Mansfield, MA. He was a 1962 graduate of Marion Catholic High School, Framingham, MA. He was an Army volunteer, trained at Fort Dix, and commissioned a 2nd Lt. In 1963-4, he attended the MA Military Academy and was elected into the Ancient & Honorables. He was a member of the Elks (1960s-1970s), Walpole MA; member and president of the Milford, MA, Junior Chamber of Commerce (1970s); president (Grand Popah) of the Rotary Club, Milford, MA (1970s); member of the Worcester Rotary, NY (1970s & 1980s). After moving to East Worcester, NY, in the 1970s, he and his family hosted many exchange students. He worked at a drug store in Norwood, MA, from 1964-1966, starting in sales and moving up to general manager of drug operations. John was sales representative for the Allen Pen Company in Needham, MA, for 23 years from 1966 to 1989, and moved to East Worcester, NY, in the 1970s opening up leased departments in northeastern NY drug stores. He started two companies in the 1990s, Art Supplies Plus, Clifton Park, NY and Stationery Merchandising Systems, Amsterdam, NY, retiring in 2001. He attended Schenectady County Community College, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Computer Information Systems. He attended the Amity Reformed Church, Vischer Ferry, NY. A memorial service will be held in the spring at Amity Reformed Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Rt. 9 Clifton Park, NY 12065, 518 371-5454. Please feel free to offer online condolences on this page.