Obituary for Leo Thomas Smith Jr.
Leo Thomas Smith, Jr., 81, of Tariffville, husband of the late Patricia (McFarland) Smith, died Thursday, August 3, 2023 at John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington. He was born June 20, 1942 in Waterbury, son of the late Leo Thomas Smith, Sr. and Anna (Starchak) Smith. Leo grew up in Naugatuck CT where he excelled in school and played football on the high school team.
He studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Connecticut, Class of 1964, where he met his future wife Patricia McFarland, and then received his PhD at Yale University in New Haven. Leo taught at Drexel University in Philadelphia from 1972 to 1978 where he and Pat started their family. They then moved to the Tariffville section of Simsbury, CT and Leo began work as a Mechanical Engineering Professor at the University of Hartford. Leo was very active at the University filling many committee roles. He continued with the University in retirement as an Adjunct Professor from 2007 to 2013 and served many roles in the Emeriti Association. Well respected by his peers, he received the Trachtenberg Award for Sustained Service to the University of Hartford in 2004, and the Hartford Section of the ASME Distinguished Engineer of the Year Award in 2015. Leo was also a favorite professor of his students, receiving the CETA College Professor of the Year Award five times.
Leo enjoyed many hobbies including fly fishing and gardening. He was an avid reader of mysteries and non-fiction, and had a love for classical and opera music.
He is survived by his sons, Ben Smith of Bolton and Andrew Smith of Torrington, his close friend Susan White of Bethany, and many family members from his wife’s side.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 9th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. A brief visitation will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 10th prior to a Funeral Service starting at 11:30 AM. Burial will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Trout Unlimited, P.O. Box 98166, Washington, DC 20090 and The Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA, 50037. Please visit Leo’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com
He studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Connecticut, Class of 1964, where he met his future wife Patricia McFarland, and then received his PhD at Yale University in New Haven. Leo taught at Drexel University in Philadelphia from 1972 to 1978 where he and Pat started their family. They then moved to the Tariffville section of Simsbury, CT and Leo began work as a Mechanical Engineering Professor at the University of Hartford. Leo was very active at the University filling many committee roles. He continued with the University in retirement as an Adjunct Professor from 2007 to 2013 and served many roles in the Emeriti Association. Well respected by his peers, he received the Trachtenberg Award for Sustained Service to the University of Hartford in 2004, and the Hartford Section of the ASME Distinguished Engineer of the Year Award in 2015. Leo was also a favorite professor of his students, receiving the CETA College Professor of the Year Award five times.
Leo enjoyed many hobbies including fly fishing and gardening. He was an avid reader of mysteries and non-fiction, and had a love for classical and opera music.
He is survived by his sons, Ben Smith of Bolton and Andrew Smith of Torrington, his close friend Susan White of Bethany, and many family members from his wife’s side.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 9th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. A brief visitation will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 10th prior to a Funeral Service starting at 11:30 AM. Burial will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Trout Unlimited, P.O. Box 98166, Washington, DC 20090 and The Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA, 50037. Please visit Leo’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com