Patricia (Keating) Smith

Patricia Keating Smith, age 91 of Madison, CT, passed away suddenly on February 9, 2021.

Patti was born on May 30, 1929 to Roland and Helen Keating in Bridgeport, CT. After graduating from Warren Harding High School in 1947, she attended the University of Bridgeport and soon met the love of her life, David Bryant Smith, a handsome WWII Veteran, and on the GI Bill at UCONN.

Patti and Dave were married in Bridgeport in 1950 and soon moved to Los Angeles, where they enjoyed the sunny skies & beaches, ballroom big band dances, Rose Bowl Parades and all the grandeur of Hollywood and the ‘endless summers’ of a booming Southern California.

They returned home to CT in 1952, Dave became a State Trooper and they settled in the North Stratfield section of Fairfield, raising four children; Robin, Wendy, Eric and Laurel.  Patti loved living in Fairfield with its community beaches, parks, renowned schools and the neighborhood on Putting Green Road filled with friends and children.

Her warmth and loving, motherly manner made her a respected and popular nursery school teacher at the family church, The First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield. She was also active member of woman’s bowling leagues, bridge clubs and the Barnum Festival. Patti was thrilled to later land in the esteemed Yale English Department as an executive assistant; a longtime position she thoroughly loved, especially interacting with students and faculty who could always count on her for a smile and happy greetings.

Patti and Dave retired ‘On Golden Pond’ in Madison in their dream colonial home where they could entertain their ever-growing family of grandkids and later great grandchildren. Every holiday was a big family reunion & party, with countless summer barbecues with the Smith gang at the Surf Club in Madison.  She also loved traveling; especially to Europe and on ‘girls only’ cruises with her daughters and sisters. She also enjoyed the annual happy hour sunset cruises on Assateague Bay, MD chartered by son-in-law, Captain Sam Davis and catered by her youngest daughter Laurel. 

We will miss her dearly; Patti was always there when her family needed her; be it a ride to school for the grandkids or just good vibrations to inspire. When Dave became ill and stricken to a wheelchair, she helped nurse him during years of declining health struggles; a real life angel right to his passing this past October at age 95.

Patti is survived by sisters Mari Kish of Fairfield, Carole Jameson of Southbury, daughters Robin Jackson (Thomas), Wendy McWade (James), Laurel Davis (Sam) and son Eric Smith, (Mary Ann) grandchildren Heather Jackson, Sean Jackson, Jacqueline Elander McCarthy, Chelsea Luft, Jamie Elander, Ginni Smith, Tyler Smith, Sam Davis III, Brooke Davis; great grandchildren Logan Jackson and ‘the twins’- Liam and Riley Hoffmann.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 9:00 am in the State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Patricia’s name may be made to Autistic Children’s Support Group of Worcester County, Inc., P.O. Box 1322, Ocean Pines, MD 21811or at http://acsgwc.org/.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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