John T Smart

Smart, John T 103 years young of Malverne, NY (62 years) and Boyton Beach, FL passed peacefully on December 9th.  

Born May 6, 1915 in Los Angeles, CA where his father was a Hollywood set designer and a technical director in silent films and later, “talkies”. The family later moved to Jamaica, Queens and John attended boarding school at The Stonybrook School. He credits the school in teaching him important lessons of life.   The school’s motto, “Character before Career” stayed with him all through his life. He committed to do something for someone else every day and even in the last days of his life he was still asking those around him “is there anything I can do for you today?”

After graduation he entered the West Point Prep School and Brooklyn Academy before attending the NYU school of Tax and Finance where he was President of his fraternity Theta Chi.  His grandson would later follow in his footsteps joining the fraternity at Babson College. John’s accounting career began with tenures on the exchange and in the finance department at US Steel.

He soon took a position as an accountant with an international construction company where his father was employed.  The two of them traveled together to Palestine, Cairo, and the African east coast country of Eritrea. They built hospitals, air strips and major housing projects.   In 1944 he was drafted into the US Army and served in the Philippines until he was discharged after the end of WW2 in 1945. 

He married his late wife of 51 years, Anna in 1947 and went on to have 3 children.

He established one of the nation’s first automated laundromats- the Washing Well located in the Bronx.  He sold the business in 1951 and moved to Malverne, Long Island.  Later that year he joined Pfizer, Inc. where he worked until his retirement in 1988 (37 years).

John was a man of great faith and he dedicated his advocational life to serving the community.  A longtime Boy Scout Troop leader, he marched in the Annual Memorial Day Parade until he was 100 years old and hosted members of the troop back at his house for a BBQ and “Smart Dogs” each year.  In addition to Scouting, his other volunteer efforts included several years in the Malverne Police Reserves, and work at Malverne’s Community Presbyterian Church.

When his children began attending Our Lady of Lourdes school he began counting collections at the church each week in the rectory office- which he continued well into his 90’s.

He founded the Malverne recycling program in 1975 before it was on the environmental radar contributing proceeds back to the church and to Boy Scout Troop 24.  He turned his passion for gardening into an opportunity to give back by growing fresh produce in his yard and donating his harvest to the church to sell to raise funds.

He was an active member of the American Legion Post 44 an avid golfer and frequent traveler. John thought the secret to living a long, fulfilling life was to “have someone to love and always have a plan”- and he always did.

John is survived by his late wife Anna Margaret Lynch Smart.  His Children, Nora and James Furey (deceased 2018) Patricia and George Duignan, William Smart and Lauren Toran His Grandchildren, Michael Furey (deceased 2018) Gina Smart Mowry & Jesse Mowry, James (JT) Smart (deceased 2000), Thomas Smart and his Great Grandchildren, Grace, James and Michael Furey beloved by many Nieces and Nephews, friends and neighbors and loving caregiver Sherry

Visitation will be held at Flinch and Bruns Funeral Home in Lynbrook, NY. Thursday Dec 13th 7-9pm, Friday Dec 14th 2-4pm & 7-9pm.  Funeral Service, Saturday December 15th 9:30am at Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne (12 Nottingham Road, Malverne, NY 11565) with Interment following at the Cemetery of Holy Rood (111 Old Country Road Westbury, NY 11590)

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in his name to The Stonybrook School a place he always considered home. https://www.stonybrookschool.org/page/giving/ways-to-give#