Obituary
John E Smith, age 94, died peacefully on March 16, 2019 at The Cornerstone Hospice, The Villages, Florida. From his birth on June 28, 1924 until his death, John used his smiling face, positive attitude and easy style to charm all who were fortunate to interact with him.
John was consumed by his love for family. His wonderful parents, Christopher J. and Ida Louise Smith, owned and operated Crestwood Lake, an iconic fresh water swimming lake that served hundreds of thousands of happy patrons in New Jersey and New York. Among his tasks in the family business, John worked as a lifeguard, which began his lifelong love for lakes and oceans.
After excelling as a high school scholar and athlete, John enrolled at the University of Virginia in 1941. Best laid plans were crushed when Pearl Harbor jolted the world during John’s first semester. Patriotism drove John to immediately enlist in the U.S.M.C. Military leaders, recognizing his math and logic skills, chose John to serve as an aviation navigator, where he flew and critiqued experimental and untested navigation systems.
After the war, John returned to college at Ogethorpe University in Atlanta, where he met Jeanne Anne Vienne, who would become his loving and devoted wife for 69 years. Together, they had four children, Scott, Brett (Sheila), C.J. (Carol) and Kim; eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
In 1951, John and Jeanne purchased and renovated a hotel in Spring Lake, on the New Jersey shore. This hotel, The Chateau, became “The Home of the Stars” and remains a family treasure to this day. John and Jeanne used The Chateau, and subsequently acquired hotels, to teach business, management and other life fulfilling skills to their ever thankful children.
John, who captained Ogethorpe’s tennis team, was a gifted athlete. His passion for sports, as well as music, have brought tremendous joy to all generations of the Smith family.
John always believed that Jeanne was the best wife, and his children were the best children, that a man could have. A Great man will be Greatly missed.
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