Geraldine Ruth Smith

Geraldine “Gerry” Smith, age 92, of Columbia MD passed away peacefully on August 2, 2024, at MedStar Montgomery Hospital from a pulmonary embolism.  We are grateful to the doctors, nurses, and Montgomery Hospice for their compassionate care.

Born in Silver Creek, NY, Gerry met Frank Smith in high school and they married in 1951. Frank was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in CO, then FL, before moving back home. Frank’s career at Bell Aerospace brought them to the Town of Tonawanda where they raised two children and lived for over 40 years. Gerry went to work at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, then at her dream job at Kenmore East High School’s Career Center.  Her many interests included cooking, flower gardening, taking sociology classes at the University of Buffalo, and supporting social justice and peace causes and the League of Women Voters. She retired in the early 1990s and fulfilled a life-long dream of travelling to Europe with girlfriends.

In 2004, Frank and Gerry moved to MD to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed active lives in their retirement home at Leisure World and going on family beach vacations.  After Frank passed away in 2020 and her health declined, Gerry moved into Brightview Columbia’s assisted living community in early 2023 where she enjoyed visiting with her new friends at shared meals, exercise classes, and special events.

Gerry was the cherished mother of Kathryn (Michael) Greenwald and Terrence (Lynn) Smith, grandmother of Mikaela and Zachary Greenwald, and Charlotte and Audrey Smith, and sister of Fred George and Joanie Thompson.

A private celebration of Gerry’s life at a family reunion is planned for September in Silver Creek, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to “A Wider Circle” at www.awidercircle.org or to “The League of Women Voters” at www.lwv.org.