John J. Smith, 86, of Newtown died Wednesday, March 30, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.

He was born in Simsbury, June 20, 1929, a son of the late Maud L. (Abbey) Smith and James Francis Smith.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Stacie (Kosiba) Smith; his daughters Barbara McLaughlin and her husband Robert of Stratham, N.H., and Cynthia Smith of Danbury. He is also survived by his brother, Richard A. Smith of Cromwell, several nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Irene Lombardo and Gail A. Smith; and his brother, James F. Smith.

Mr Smith grew up in Middletown and had resided in Newtown for the past 54 years.

He joined the Connecticut Light and Power Company at Meriden in 1953 as an estimator. He held various classifications until 1957 when he became an engineering estimator. He was made an engineer in Danbury in 1961 and was named district gas engineer in 1964,  area manager and gas engineer at Ansonia in 1968 and became Norwalk district manager in 1973. He was director of gas supply and business services for Northeast Utilities.

Mr Smith retired in 1994 from the former Yankee Gas Company in Meriden where he was vice president of gas operations and a member of the New England Gas Association.

Mr Smith graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in mechanical engineering and was a member of the University of Connecticut Alumni Association. He was a US Army veteran.

Mr Smith enjoyed woodworking, building several pieces of furniture. He also enjoyed stamp collecting. He traveled with his wife to Barbados, Paris, Switzerland, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise on the Queen Mary.

He loved his best friend, a cat named Dexter, who predeceased him in 2012.

Friends may call Tuesday, April 5, from 9:45 to 10:45 am, at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street in Newtown. A Mass of Christian Burial will then be celebrated in St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road in Newtown, on Tuesday at 11 am. Interment with full military honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, www.michaeljfox.org; or Regional Hospice and Home Care, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury CT 06810, www.regionalhospicect.org.