Christopher Stanley Smith

CORNWALL — Christopher Stanley Smith, 89, of Geer Village and formerly of Cornwall passed away at Rose Haven in Litchfield on Nov. 4, 2011. He was the husband of the late Honor Helen (Boyd) Smith.He grew up in New Haven and attended the Foote School and Hopkins Grammar. He went on to the Forman School in Litchfield and graduated from Deerfield Academy and from Bard College the Art School of Columbia University in 1947. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1945. He had spent his summers in Cornwall at Yelping Hill; his parents were among the group of Yale faculty that established the summer colony at Yelping Hill. When he married his former wife, Frances Judson Meredith, who predeceased him, he settled in Cornwall. He owned the D&S Building Company with Oval Degreenia; many local homes and stone barns were built by them in the area, including the original buildings at Catamount Ski Area. He later owned the Covered Bridge Building & Hardware Supply Co. in West Cornwall. The year after the Marvelwood School moved in next door to his home in Cornwall Village, he joined the faculty and was with the school until 1967. During this time, in addition to teaching, he was assistant to the headmaster, admissions director, athletic director and coach of the varsity hockey team.He was one of first licensed nursing home administrators in the state of Connecticut. He was the administrator of Torrington Extend-a-Care on Wyoming Avenue from 1970 to 1989, having opened it for its owners. He was previously the administrator at the Golden Manor Convalescent Home, New Haven; Highland Acres Extend-a-Care Centre, Winsted, and Hilldale Extend-a-Care Centre, Bloomfield. He was a member of the American Nursing Home Association and a Certified Fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators. He rejoined Marvelwood School in 1989 and was director of student services there until his retirement in 2004.While living most of his adult life in Cornwall, he was Civil Defense Director in Cornwall in the 1950s. He directed the rescue efforts during the flood of 1955. Before the court system moved from towns to counties, he was the town prosecutor in Cornwall for a number of years. He was a member of the Cornwall Fire Department and was fire chief for many years.He was a Rotarian for more than 60 years. He was a member of the Salisbury Rotary Club and served as president. He was also a member of the Torrington Rotary. He was a recipient of Rotary International’s highest award when he was named a Paul Harris Fellow while a member of the Torrington Rotary.He was a member of the Litchfield University Club and he served as president of the Board of Directors for Child and Family Services, Northwest. He attended Trinity Church in Lime Rock, where he served as treasurer and senior warden. He was also a member of the Litchfield Deanery.He is survived by his children, Jaquelin G. Dennehy of Torrington, David C. Smith and his wife Deborah of Richmond, Va., Meredith Marshall Smith of Denver, N.C., and Clarkson D. Smith of Sharon; his grandchildren, David N.C. Dennehy and his wife, Dr. Stefanie Durstin, of Harwinton; David Judson Smith and his wife, Rachael, of Fairfax Station, Va., and Virginia Lee Smith of Long Beach, Calif.; and his great-grandchildren, Jack D. Dennehy and Joanna D. Dennehy of Harwinton and Grayson Smith and Vivian Joy Smith of Fairfax Station. He was predeceased by his parents, Professor and Mrs. David Stanley Smith. His father was a recognized composer of organ and chamber music and was dean of the Yale School of Music from 1920 to 1946. He also conducted the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lime Rock. Burial in Cornwall Cemetery will be private. Calling hours will be Friday, Nov. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home in Torrington.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Marvelwood School, 476 Skiff Mountain Road, PO Box 3001, Kent, CT 06757.