Calvin M. Smith
Calvin M. Smith, who was born in the Hayground section of Bridgehampton on Aug. 11, 1927, died of a brain tumor on March 12 at home, across the street from where he was born. He was 85.
His parents were Dr. Louisa Rose Brown and Leonard H. Smith. He grew up in Bridgehampton, graduating from Bridgehampton High School in 1944. He joined the merchant marine in 1945, going on to enlist in the Army the next year. He served in occupied Japan with the 25th Infantry Division until 1947, and continued to serve in the Army, stateside, through 1951. He played the clarinet in the Army band.
Mr. Smith attended Cortland College upstate and the University of Miami in Florida. In 1953, he went to work for the Republic Aviation Corporation in Farmingdale, and in 1957 took a job with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. He worked with the department for 30 years. When he retired, he was the head of the Riverhead Office of Environmental Sanitation.
In 1954, he married a dancer, Dionne Farrell. They had one daughter, Athena Travlos, who now lives in Chios, Greece. Mrs. Smith died in 1998.
He loved nature, and served on the board of the Southampton Trails Preservation Society, for which he helped plan and clear many of the paths that are popular today. He would guide walks on the trails, as well.
Mr. Smith was an enthusiastic bridge player, too, and won many trophies as a member of the Southampton Bridge Club.
In 2000, he married Cecile Graffin, who still lives in their house in Hayground.
He enjoyed traveling, and when doing so would take photographs of the scenery around him. He would then commission local artists to render paintings based on the photos.
Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two brothers, Leland Smith of Bridgehampton and Lewis Smith of Salt Lake City. Three grandchildren also survive.
Mr. Smith was buried at Calverton National Cemetery on March 20. Donations in his name have been suggested for East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978.