Verne Leslie Smith

Dr. Verne L. Smith Jr., 92, died on May 16, 2015 in Bedford, NH. Born on February 28, 1923 in Beverly MA, he was the son of the late Rev. Verne L. Smith and Johanna Katrena "Trena"(Brooks) Smith. He was the devoted husband of Clara "Nickie" (Nicholson) Smith, who passed away in 2000 after 51 happy years of marriage. He was a long time resident of Danvers, MA and Windham, NH, and more recently Boscawen and Canterbury NH where he lived with daughter, Ginny, and her husband, Russ Wright. His final home was at The Arbors of Bedford in Bedford NH.

Verne graduated from Meyers High School, Wilkes-Barre PA in 1941. He received a BS degree from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA) in 1947, having interrupted his college education to serve as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII as an aerial navigator. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia PA) in 1951. He spent the first half of his medical career as a general practitioner in Danvers, MA from 1952 to 1971. For the last 18 years of his career, he was a pioneer in the field of Emergency Room Medicine, working in Lynn MA hospitals.

Verne was a quiet, loving, gentle gentleman, more comfortable in a flannel shirt than in a suit, who had a twinkle in his eye when he told a joke. As a younger man, Verne enjoyed fishing, swimming, diving, scuba diving and downhill skiing and family times at the camp on Lake Waukewan. He was an avid sports fan, particularly fond of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins. His favorite hobby, for his entire adult life, was playing tournament-style contract bridge at local bridge clubs. In later years, he played online against, and beat, the authors of the how-to-play-bridge books. He was a Silver Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League, and, although he has not played competitively for years, he is still ranked twenty-fourth with the New Hampshire Bridge Association.

But most of all, he loved his family, especially his beloved wife, "Nickie." He is survived by his three daughters: Bonnie Wright, with husband Wayne Wright, of Salem NH; Virginia Wright, with husband Russell Wright, of Canterbury/Webster NH; and Darlene Flateau of Morrisonville NY. He will be missed by six grandchildren: Kristen Cummings and fiancée Chris Thomas; Paul "PJ" Cummings Jr; Andrea Wright and fiancée Josh Hart; Sarah Wright and companion Samantha Berrios; Alfred "AJ" Flateau and wife Christina; and Kathy Flateau. He also had two step grandchildren, who also grew up loving, and being loved by their "Grampa:" Ethan Wright and wife Tammy, and Amanda Turmelle and husband Corey. He also leaves behind three great grandchildren: Elysa Thomas, and Lilidae and Orion Flateau. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Calling hours will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 21st at The Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 172 King Street, Boscawen NH. A Celebration of Life, with military honors, will take place at 1:00 on Friday, May 22nd at NH Veteran's Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in support of SKMC Scholarships at Jefferson College, in memory of Verne Smith. Checks can be made payable to Jefferson, and mailed to OIA 125 South Ninth St, Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The Cremation Society of NH is assisting the family with arrangements.