Jerry passed away on Dec. 22, 2021, at his home on Marco Island, Florida.
He was born in New York City on Sept. 2, 1934, to Dr. William Leslie Smith and Isabelle Orr. He grew up in the Hartford, Connecticut area. He graduated from Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut, and attended Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where he met his wife, Gay Nelson. They married in 1958. He went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957 and was honorably discharged.
He moved to Weston, Connecticut, in 1961 and resided there for over 30 years.
Jerry was an executive in the television and entertainment industry, working for the BBC, Twentieth Century Fox, ABC, and World Vision, from which he retired in 1984.
Jerry was an avid golfer and fisherman. After his retirement, he divided his time between Marco Island in Florida, Prouts Neck in Maine, and one of his most favorite places, Middle Dam, a small fishing village on a lake in rural northern Maine.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; his brother, William Leslie Smith Jr.; his son, Bradford; and great niece, Zoë.
Jerry is survived by: his wife, Gay Smith; his daughter, Gigi Schofield; half-sister, Susan Smith Rubin; half-brother, Clay Smith; his nieces, Kimberley, Elizabeth, Abigail, Courtney, and Carly; great-nephews, Justin, Jared, Ian, Owen; and great-niece, Isabelle.
Jerry will be buried next to his mother and brother at the Hope Cemetery in Kennebunk, Maine. There will be a graveside Memorial Service held in the spring for family and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT 06070, https://westminster-school.myschoolapp.com; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Jerry’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043.
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