Hughie O. Smith

Hugh Oliver ‘Hughie’ Smith, of Yonkers, New York, passed away on July 2 nd , 2023, following a brief illness. He was four days shy of his 75 th birthday. Hughie was born in Teeboy, Corlough, Co. Cavan, Ireland, in July 1948 and was the fourth of seven
children born to John James and Anne Smith. As a boy, he attended Corratillion National School in Corlough.
 
In 1960, at the age of twelve, Hughie moved with his family to Ballynacargy, Co. Westmeath, where he attended Mullingar Technical School. After finishing school, Hughie moved to Ballinamore in Co. Leitrim where he served his time as an apprentice carpenter.
 
He continued to work in the town and played football with Ballinamore Sean O'Heslin’s G.A.A. Hughie was part of the team that won three Senior County Championships in a row in 1967, ‘68 & ‘69. He also won 5 league medals between 1967 & 1972 along with a further senior championship in 1972. The 3-in-a-row team of the ‘60s embarked on an historic trip to New York in 1969, an occasion that will live long in the memory of those who were there. Hughie also represented Leitrim at senior level in both Gaelic Football and Hurling.
 
In 1972, Hughie emigrated to the United States with some of his friends. He based himself in the Bronx and continued working as a carpenter. He would later join the Carpenter’s Union.
 
During those years, he would meet his future wife of 33 years, Sheila Marion Sheridan, from Kilmaine, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
 
In 1977, at his parents’ request, Hughie returned to Ireland to take over the family farm. He played with the Ballynacargy GAA Club during that time.

In 1986, he returned to America and re-joined the Carpenter’s Union and worked at Burke Rehab in White Plains for 20 years. He reconnected with Sheila in 1988 and they married in Kilmaine, Co. Mayo during the summer of 1990.
 
Hughie was an avid golfer. He was a member of the Cavan Golf Club and J. P. Clarke’s Golf Society in New York. He loved Irish music, dancing, and horse racing. You’d often hear his lively rendition of “The Gallant John Joe” at any Irish event. Hughie always loved watching the Irish games from home every Sunday. Every year he would return home to attend the All Ireland Football Final and the Galway Races.

Hughie will be remembered as a handsome and devoted husband. He was a true family man and a loyal friend. He was a generous man and a devout Catholic. He remodeled the family house in Ireland and he and Sheila always had an open door for any family and friends to come and stay.

Hughie is survived by his wife, Sheila, and his siblings, Paddy (Barbara) Smith, Mary (John) Walsh, Lena Smith, Johnny Smith, Pauline (John) Hewitt, and Patricia (Eugene) McCormack. His 16 nephews and nieces will miss him, along with many grand- nephews, grand-nieces and many beloved cousins in Ireland and England.

A Celebration of Hughie's life will take place at the Pelham Funeral Home located at 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, New York, on Friday, July 7 th , from 4:00-8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Barnabas Church located at 409 E 241 st, Bronx, New York, on Saturday, July 8th, at 11:00 am. Hughie will be repatriated home to Ballynacargy in Co. Westmeath, where he will be interred in Sonna
Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Aisling Irish Center in Hughie’s memory https://www.aislingcenter.org/donate-3/. For more
information or to leave a condolence, please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com