Hugh A Smith

Hugh Joseph Alexander Smith was born in beautiful Jamaica on December 2, 1935 in Fletcher’s Land, Jamaica, West Indies to the late Charles Smith and Edwena Deere. He attended Allman Town primary and junior schools, and as a teenager Kingston Senior School. He received a full scholarship to Jamaica School of Art, where he perfected his natural artistic abilities in watercolor, charcoal and pencil. Hugh attended Oxbridge Commercial College from 1951 to 1955. He then worked in sales for the Times Department Store and the Palomino Cigar Company in Jamaica, where his younger brother Junior travelled the island with him during school breaks. In later years, he worked in the United States as an Insurance Adjuster for both Great American Insurance and Jefferson Insurance until his retirement in 2001. Never one to rest on his successes, Hugh also completed Dale Carnegie Courses and continuing education courses at Bergen Community College. In 1964 Hugh met Dolores (Denese) Cox in Jamaica. He migrated to the United States in1967 to be with the love of his life and they married later that year in Brooklyn, New York. Denese and Hugh lived in the Bronx until 1979, and then the family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, where they raised their 3 sons. Hugh was a talented watercolor and pencil artist, a great soccer and expert cricket player. He was the goal-keeper for the Division 2 team of the Railway soccer Club for 3 years and also coached the youth Railway soccer team in Jamaica. Additionally, he played on the Railway Cricket team for 10 years and later the Staten Island Cricket Club for 11 years. He was also an avid tennis player who enjoyed playing all year round with his tennis friends, who were like family to him. Hugh enjoyed spending time with his family. He particularly enjoyed seeing and being with family during the holidays. He was pre-deceased by his eldest son Anthony Smith, his brother Bertram and his wife Denese. To cherish his memories are sons Anthony (Ricky) Verley, Andrew and Michael; daughter-in-law Donnett; grandchildren Alex and Laila; sister Eula Henson, brothers Sidney Mitchell, and Robert (Junior) Smith and a host of extended family members and friends. Hugh is remembered as a devoted father, loving husband, adoring grandfather and dedicated friend. He will be greatly missed.

Hugh A Smith

July 9, 2018