Robert H. Smith, Jr.
Jun 26th, 2026
Robert Harriman Smith, Jr., 91, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026. He was a beloved husband, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, neighbor, and friend.
Born in Boston on January 28, 1935, Bob grew up in Winthrop and graduated from BC High in 1953. He attended CU Boulder before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. On September 19, 1959, he married his true love, Joan A. Smith (Amerino), and the couple settled in Yarmouth in 1965. Bob owned the Great Island Deli before beginning a distinguished 30-year career as an executive chef for Red Jacket Inc.
In retirement, Bob deepened the connections that mattered most to him, cultivating relationships with family and lifelong friends alike. Whether offering sound advice or sailing on the Milena Rose with his sister and brother-in-law, he was entirely present for the people he loved. He deeply relished his role as an honorary grandfather to his great-nieces, Allison and Caroline, and was a mainstay in his community, famously grilling for Relay for Life. A dedicated New England sports fan, he rarely missed a Red Sox game, and he held a lifelong affection for animals, particularly his birds and his special doggie friend, Phoebe. Bob firmly believed that "you reap what you sow"—a philosophy proven true by the steady stream of neighbors and former employees who visited and supported him in his later years, returning the same guidance and generosity he had offered them as a mentor.
Bob is survived by his sister, Sheila A. Gagnon of Yarmouthport; sister-in-law, Nancy Curry and her partner Owen Tabb of South Dennis; brother-in-law, Michael Williams of Winthrop; and many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan; his parents, Marie (McCann) Smith and Robert H. Smith, Sr.; his parents-in-law, Alberta and Antonio Amerino; his sisters, Nancy Anastasia and Patricia Kelly; his sister-in-law, Jeanne Williams; and his brothers-in-law, William Gagnon, William Kelly, and Dennis Curry.
A funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15th at St. Pius X Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth, followed by burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bob’s name to MSPCA Cape Cod, cape@mspca.org.