Obituary of Brian Edward Smith

Brian Edward Smith passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, June 7, with his beloved wife by his side. He was deeply loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Brian is survived by his wife of over 66 years, Elizabeth; his daughters, Janet and Deborah; his son, Simon; and his brother, Ron. He is predeceased by his parents, Ena and Harry, and his sister, Janet. His legacy lives on through his seven cherished grandchildren: Lauren, Catherine, Kevin, Stephen, Erin, Ella, and Harrison. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Krista; son-in-law, Jed; niece, Louise; nephew, David; sister-in-law, Clare; and many cousins, most of whom reside in England.

Brian was born on October 9, 1936, in London, England, to Harry Leger Smith and Ena May Emington Smith. Shortly after finishing school, Brian proudly served in the Royal Air Force. He was stationed in Eindhoven, Holland from January 1955 to January 1957. His family enjoyed the stories he shared, particularly his humorous accounts of patrol duty on his bicycle. During his visits home, he began courting the love of his life, Elizabeth. They were married in September 1959 and soon settled in Tonbridge, Kent, England, where they started their family while Brian commuted to London to build his career.

In 1972, Brian and his family of five relocated to the United States when he was transferred by Chase Bank for a two-year assignment. He returned to the United States in 1975, settling in Morris Township, New Jersey which became his home for the remainder of his life. Brian enjoyed a distinguished career in banking as a Eurodollar Dealer, running the Eurodollar trading desk, and then as Vice President-Treasurer. He earned a reputation for professionalism, expertise, and integrity, while also forming many cherished friendships throughout his career. His career later included positions with Gulf International Bank, LIBRA Bank, and United Bank of Kuwait in Bahrain, where he lived for eight months. He concluded his banking career with ASLK-CGER/Fortis Bank, retiring in December 1998.

After retirement, Brian enjoyed annual vacations on Hilton Head Island, where he looked forward to playing golf, spending time by the pool, and making his daily visits to Pool Bar Jim's in the company of family and friends. He also embraced the opportunity to travel, visiting California, New Mexico, Canada, Italy, and Portugal, as well as returning to England to share his beloved homeland with his children and grandchildren. His final visit to England was in October 2019, when he spent cherished time with family and friends.

While retired, Brian spent Monday afternoons and weekend dinners whenever possible with his family, teaching his grandchildren how to play poker, enjoying a game of Farkle Dice and quizzing them on various world facts. He was a captivating storyteller and his family always enjoyed hearing about his childhood growing up in England during WWII. They can easily recall the songs he would often chant, including “There She Was Just a-Walkin’ Down the Street,” “The Laughing Policeman," “My Brother Sylvest,” and “Blue Is the Color, ”  as well as his memorable phrases such as “The boy was sitting on the deck…”  His love of chocolate was notable and he earned the nickname “lead dog,” especially during the family's holiday visits to New York City.

Brian also enjoyed time with his Cromwell neighbors, sharing many meals and drinks. Numerous mornings began with walks around the neighborhood with the guys, weekly poker nights, fantasy football, and summer days at the neighborhood park and pool. He regularly coordinated with the gentlemen of the neighborhood for lunch on the first Thursday of each month at the local Charley Brown’s.

Brian further devoted his time to community service helping his wife with Meals on Wheels, serving as an usher at Grace Church in Madison on Sundays, and assisting with counting the church collection on Monday mornings. In 2014, Brian along with his wife, Elizabeth, were honored with the Hegg Award, a lifetime achievement award, by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark to celebrate their decades of service to the church and community.

Brian enjoyed various sports from a young age. One could find Brian on the English football field fulfilling the position of left winger. In his late teens he joined the Putney Rowing Club where he experienced a scary moment on the River Thames. He loved watching sports as much as participating in them. Retirement allowed him more time to watch the major golf and tennis tournaments as well as support his English football team, Chelsea F.C. His love of sport did not stop there. He developed an admiration for American football, supporting the New York Giants, and also became an enthusiastic fan of ice hockey, cheering on the New Jersey Devils.

When the opportunity arose, Brian made trips into New York City to reconnect with friends from the market including his quarterly meetings with the Wall Street Wanderers. These outings included “Port Club” parties at various establishments as well as casual gatherings at Jim Brady’s in lower Manhattan, where his photograph hung behind the bar for many years. He maintained overseas relationships through his continued correspondence with the Ancient Marketeers. Many of these workplace relationships grew into long lasting friendships.

Brian loved life and enjoyed time spent with others. He was often jokingly accused of “running for mayor” while out and about making conversation with strangers. Brian, sometimes referred to as “Smudgers,” will always be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor. Brian was a devoted husband, a supportive father whose advice was deeply valued, a role model for his grandchildren, and a much-loved brother and uncle. He was a true friend and a “drinking buddy” to many. Those who knew Brian were fortunate to have shared in his life.

A service celebrating Brian’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brian’s name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org) or to Grace Church, Madison, NJ’s Memorial Garden Perpetual Care Fund (www.gracemadison.org).

Arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison, NJ.