Donald F. Smith, 72, passed away unexpectedly at Mid Coast Hospital on April 16, with his loving family at his side. He had dealt bravely with chronic illnesses for many years but still our loss was unexpected.
Don was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Feb. 8, 1935, the only child of Frederick W. Smith and Ruth Palen Smith. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School in New York and studied electrical engineering at Polytechnic.
As a youth he was a proud Eagle Scout, an avid basketball player, and a fervent Brooklyn Dodgers fan; and he was a committed Dallas Cowboys supporter since the days of Tom Landry and Roger Staubach.
For 26 years Don was an electrical engineer working as a project engineer for Standard Brands, later Nabisco Brands, supervising construction of a wide variety of production facilities across the country, including the then largest candy factory in the world.
While living in New Jersey, he was very active in the Jaycees and in 1971, was voted Outstanding Chapter President for his work with the Paramus Chapter. Don was proud that under his presidency that chapter was the first in the state to accept women as members.
In 1983, Don and his partner, Emma Stephenson, moved to Newcastle and opened Elfin Hill B&B and Elfin Hill Specialty Baking businesses. Five years later they moved to larger premises in Damariscotta and focused on the bakery. Their signature fruitcake and cheesecakes were featured in regional and national magazines and earned them a segment in the first year of the ongoing Made in Maine series. For 12 years Elfin Hill supplied desserts to dozens of restaurants, created wedding cakes, and provided catering services, as well as shipping products worldwide via their mail order business.
In 1993, Don joined Mobius, Inc. in Damariscotta, and was employed there ever since, working as facilities manager. He loved his work and will not be forgotten by his colleagues or by the men, women and children that Mobius serves.
Don is survived by his first wife, Amelia D. Smith of Norwell, Mass.; his beloved son, Greg Smith, M.D. and wife Tove; grandsons; Eric and Marc of Hanover, Mass. He also leaves behind his dear wife, Emma Stephenson-Smith; stepsons, Jeremy Stephenson and wife Margaret Karagas of Norwich, Vt., Mark Stephenson and wife Kathleen Mallon of Norwalk, Conn., and Toby Stephenson and wife Andrea Perry of Ellsworth; and stepdaughter, Collette Stephenson Clifford of Shelton, Conn. This inherited family gave him an additional eight loving grandchildren, Emily, Caroline, Bill, Rita, Mary, Conor, Jacob, and Liam.
Visiting hours 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Wed., April 25 at Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro, with Rosary at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m., Thurs., April 26 at St. Patrick’s Church, Academy Hill, Newcastle, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don’s memory to either Mobius, Inc., 319 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543, or to St. Patrick’s Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 598, Newcastle, ME 04553.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
