Father Richard Smith, pastor of St. Luke/St. Andrew Parish in Ocean City, Md., died Oct. 29. He was 67.
The youngest of seven children, Father Smith was born on April 28, 1947, in Trenton, N.J. He served in the United States Army from November 1966 until November 1969. Before entering the seminary, he was employed by Mercer County, N.J., and was Assistant Airport Manager for Operations and Chief of the Crash, Fire, Rescue and Police Department for almost 20 years.
In 1976, he married Rita Buffin of Trenton, who died in 1990. In 1994, Father Smith entered St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore where he earned a bachelor’s in theology and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sacred theology. Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli ordained him to the priesthood for the Diocese of Wilmington in May 2000.
Father Smith served as associate pastor of St. John the Beloved Parish in Wilmington; Holy Cross Parish in Dover; and St. Luke/St. Andrew Parish. In 2008, he was appointed administrator of St. Luke/St. Andrew and was named pastor of that parish in October 2009.
Visitation will take place on Monday, Nov. 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Luke Church, 9903 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. Bishop Malooly will preside at a concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial on Nov. 4 at noon in St. Luke Church. An additional visitation and Memorial Mass will be held in New Jersey followed by interment at St. Mary Cathedral Cemetery in Hamilton, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Office for Priestly Vocations, Diocese of Wilmington Seminary Fund, P.O. Box 2030, Wilmington, DE 19899-2030, or the Catholic church of your choosing.
