James Joseph Smith, age 91, of Newtown, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 2, surrounded by his family.

Born on May 20, 1930, in Hackensack, N.J., Jim was predeceased by his father Frank Smith, mother Marie (Arnold) Smith, and his siblings, Barbara Coan, Frank Smith, and Ralph Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Marie; his children and their spouses: Jay and Marian Smith of Chelmsford, Mass., Brian and Nancy Smith of Oxford, Jacqueline Smith of Danbury, and Amy and Scott McKearney of Thomaston; his grandchildren: Mariel, Casey, Peter, Jimmy, Megan, Kelley, Meghan, and Diane: and many nieces and nephews that were all very fond of “Uncle Jim.”

Jim grew up in Norwalk. As a young adult, he enjoyed amateur boxing. He was in the Army National Guard and served in the Korean War as an Airborne Ranger first class sergeant and chief radarman.

Jim attended Indiana Institute of Technology and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He started his career at Barnes Engineering as an electrical engineer and later went to work for Perkin-Elmer, where he was project manager for the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope (one of his proudest accomplishments). He was also involved with the Hexagon Spy Satellite and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.

As a resident of Newtown for more than 60 years, Jim was an active member of the community. As an elected official, Jim served as a selectman for the Town of Newtown and also served as a member of Newtown’s Legislative Council. He served for 20 years on the Newtown Zoning Board of Appeals, first as an alternate, then a member, and ultimately serving as its chairman.

Jim’s service to Newtown went well beyond his elected positions. He was instrumental in forming the Newtown Health District and served as chairman on the Board of Health. Jim also participated as a member of the Fairfield Hills closing advisory board and as a committee member on the town’s committee for tax relief for the elderly. He was a member of three separate Charter Revision Commissions for Newtown and was an election chief moderator for multiple presidential elections. For his service to the community, Jim received a State Public Service Award from the Secretary of the State.

Jim’s involvement in health issues went beyond the traditional. He was active in mental health services, as well, serving as a member and vice chairman of the Northwest Regional Mental Health Board for Connecticut. On that board, Jim also served as the chairman of the Review and Evaluation Subcommittee. His engagement in mental health issues fostered his involvement with Interlude, a regional social service provider, that Jim served as a board member for and later chairman of Interlude.

Outside of politics and government, Jim was president of the Norwalk Jaycees and has served as an International Director and International Senator of the Jaycees. He was a coach and president of the Newtown Pop Warner Football League. He was also a Scout Master for Boy Scout troop 770 and a leader for Indian Guides.

He was an avid photographer and shared that passion with his children, developing film and making prints in their darkroom at home. Jim also enjoyed working in the yard with his Gravely and its many attachments. In typical engineer fashion, Jim built his home computer with his children and enjoyed going to computer shows on the weekends.

Jim spent the last few years of his life doing what he loved most: fixing things both inside the house and out while being surrounded by a large family that loved him dearly.

Friends are invited to attend calling hours Sunday, November 7, from 4 to 7 pm in the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. On Monday, November 8, a funeral service will be conducted at 11 am in the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in honor of James J. Smith to the Western Connecticut Coalition, Seven Old Sherman Turnpike, Danbury CT 06810.