Michael was born 03/25/1948 in Cambridge, MA, the son of Mike and Betty Smith. In his early childhood his family moved to Minnesota where Michael often recalled his early days living on a farm and enjoying the outdoors. In elementary school his family moved back to Massachusetts to the Framingham Women's Institution where his mother was the superintendent. Though unconventional, Mike had a great childhood at the women's institution, which was also a working farm. Betty's influence and his childhood on the grounds of a prison, gave Mike the strong belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Michael sampled several fine academic institutions, such as Avon Old Farms, throughout his high school education. He started his college career playing football for Loyola University (now Concordia) in Montreal. After a career ending knee injury, he transferred to University of Massachusetts where he graduated with a sociology degree. His children know nothing else about his college experiences but suspect he had a lot of fun. Mike met the love of his life, Donna Bryant, one summer after graduation on Cape Cod. They were married in August 1978 and soon had two children: Alana Bryant Smith and Patrick Cole Smith.

Mike began his career as a probation officer for the state of Massachusetts before switching fields and joining WHDH-TV in Boston. While you will not recognize him from the 11 o'clock news, Mike had a 31-year run behind the cameras. He retired as the Vice President of Business Affairs. Mike loved working at the station. He built many close friendships with his coworkers that continued through his retirement. His kids remember being told that Mike might demand a lot from you at work, but he was always fair and never asked for more than he was willing to do himself.

While work figured prominently in his life and happiness, his family always came first. His son and daughter would be hard pressed to remember a time that Mike missed one of their events or wasn’t home during a time of need. The imposing figure that many of his colleagues at work might identify was the mirror image of the caring and compassionate father his children remember. Mike was always the one who diffused arguments at home. He was always ready with advice.

Upon his retirement he moved out of the city to Cape Cod where he has often spent the majority of his summers since his childhood. He was an avid boater, held his captain license, and could very often be relied on to help his friends and neighbors with whatever nautical conundrums they may be having up and down Bass River. He loved to take his boat fishing and was often surrounded by friends on the water during these expeditions. He briefly tried his hand as a charter captain before deciding that the people who hired him simply did not take fishing seriously enough. When he was not on his boat he could often be found over at Bass River golf course, often with his son Patrick and his grandson William.

Mike preferred to be busy. He continued to dabble in real estate and learned how to make stunning Nantucket baskets during his retirement. He was continuously tinkering with his boat(s), assisting with the neighborhood dock, and helping (or hanging) out at the Bass River Yacht Club. He was also an avid Notre Dame football fan which he passed down to his son and grandchildren. He continued to be the person his family relied on for advice. When Donna passed, he stepped in to take an even more prominent role in the upbringing of his grandson Jameson, often picking him up from school, cooking dinners, and watching him when he was off from school.

To know him was a pleasure, to count him as a friend a blessing, to be part of his family was to be loved. Mike is survived by his daughter, Alana Smith of Washington, DC, her husband, Taylor, and their two children, William and Ania as well as his son, Patrick Smith and his son, Jameson who lived next door. We will miss you, Mike.

There are no words to express how so very sorry we are about Mike’s passing. He and Donna were our first friends in Harbour Haven, and we shared many laughs and fun times together. We miss Donna, and we’re already missing Mike. Alana and Patrick, we’re thinking of you and your families at this sad time. Peter and Diane Hanson