Obituaries

In Memoriam: Fair Havenite Brad Smith, 58

Fair Havenite Bradley Charles Smith passed away peacefully at his home on April 25. He was 58.

Brad grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Greenwich, Connecticut. He graduated from Greenwich High School and Central Connecticut State University. In February of 1997, he married Laurie Meredith, and they had two children, Teddy and Robby.

Brad Smith
Photo/family via Thompson Memorial Home

“Brad was a devoted husband and father who took great pride in raising their children. He enjoyed being on the sidelines cheering them on during their high school and collegiate swim meets and baseball games. Brad will be remembered for his dry sense of humor and quick wit, but above all else, he will be remembered for his kindness and calm demeanor, which were constant sources of comfort to his family and friends. During his too short time, Brad made the world a kinder and gentler place.
He will be greatly missed.”

Loved ones of Brad Smith in his obituary

Over the course of his successful career, Brad held various positions in financial wealth management, most recently at BCS Private Wealth Management in Rumson.

“Outside of his professional career, Brad was a talented woodworker, a talent that was generationally passed down from his father and grandfather. Brad’s handmade wooden bowls were always the most coveted gifts at Christmas. People remember what Christmas it was by who was lucky enough to receive
Brad’s bowl that year.
When not in his woodshop, Brad could be found in the great outdoors, either paddle boarding on the Navesink River, fishing, hiking with family and friends in the Adirondacks, or enjoying a quiet morning under an umbrella at Sea Bright Beach Club. Brad loved taking long walks at the beach with the love of his life — his wife, Laurie. Brad also had a passion for craft beer, and his knowledge was appreciated by his friends since he always had a pulse on new beers to sample. Brad even once traveled to Belgium to sample beer brewed by monks.”

Brad was also a lifelong accomplished sailor who raced in regattas, and was a past member of the New York Yacht Club. Brad and Laurie met in Key West at one of his many sailing regattas. The following year, “they celebrated with an elegant winter wedding at the Harvard Club in New York City. Since the day they met, the two were an inseparable team.”

Brad is survived by: his loving wife, Laurie Smith; his children, Teddy Smith and Robby Smith; his parents, Beverly and Michael Smith; brother, Shawn Smith; sister, Jennifer Joy Smith; mother-in-law, Kathryn Meredith; sister-in-law, Niki and husband Geoff Harrison; and brother-in-law, Shawn Miele. He was also a devoted uncle to numerous nieces and nephews: Alex, Katy, and Will Miele, Mackenzie, Taylor, and Morgan Harrison, Teegan Smith, and Reign Smith. He was predeceased by sister Jani Smith, father-in-law Robert Meredith, and sister-in-law Cristine Meredith Miele.

Words of Remembrance and Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 5 at 11 a.m. at The Riverhouse at The Rumson Country Club, Rumson. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Brad Smith may be directed to VNA of Central Jersey’s Hospice Program, Attn: Philanthropy Department, 23 Main St., Suite D1, Holmdel, NJ 07733 or online at www.vnahg.org.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home