Todd E Smith

Mr. Todd E. Smith, 64, of Fleetwood, NC, passed away peacefully the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2024 at his home surrounded by family. Born December 26, 1959 in Endicott, NY, he was the son of Ira J. Smith and Doris I. Smith (nee Evans) and spent his youth in Vestal and Newark Valley, NY. He earned his diploma from Newark Valley High School in 1978, an Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Broome Community College in 1980, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business from Binghamton University in 1989.

He was a lifelong student and man of many passions. He had a distinguished career in electrical utilities, having designed electrical substations for New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG), Northeast Power Alliance (NEPA), and Substation Engineering Company and having run the lineworkers training program for NYSEG. He acted, directed, and designed and built sets with multiple community theaters: the Ti-Ahwaga Players of Owego NY, the Elmira Little Theater of Elmira, NY, the Ashe County Little Theatre of West Jefferson, NC, and the Alleghany Community Theater of Sparta, NC. He offered dedicated service in many roles of local government: a town councilman, supervisor, and magistrate in Newark Valley, NY and a Tioga County, NY legislator. He was a man of faith, having attended St. John’s Episcopal Church of Speedsville, NY and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Boone, NC. He loved woodworking and carpentry; his golden retrievers Riley, Eliot, Tucker, and Preston; vintage cars; baseball; the Carolina Tar Heels; hosting parties; connecting with new people; and – above all – his wide community of family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joan Stoughton Smith; his brother Kirk F. Smith and wife Sharon Smith, his sister Sandra K. Shaheen and husband John Shaheen; his father-in-law Maurice Stoughton, brother-in-law Tim Stoughton, and sister-in-law Emily Olney and husband Will Olney, and sister-in-law Linda Yetter; his son Ira T. Smith, daughter-in-law Jewel Davis, and granddaughter Wren Lee Smith; his son Kenneth R. Smith and his partner Dahnia M. Asfour; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A service will be held Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone, NC. Additionally, a celebration of life will take place in New York at a date to be announced, with burial to follow at Hope Cemetery in Newark Valley, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Kitchen Renovation Fund or the Ti-Ahwaga Community Players of Owego, NY (tiahwaga.com).

Austin and Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Smith family.

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