Former Mineola Mayor Ed Smith was remembered for his civic activism, as a loving father, a strong local political force and a helpful friend when he passed away on Sept. 6 at his home in Winsted, Connecticut. Smith was 92.
Smith served at the helm of Mineola for 10 years before racking up a decade as its deputy mayor and as its village assessor for 15 years. He would go on to serve as the vice-chairman for the Town of North Hempstead’s Board of Zoning Appeals and helped other numerous other Nassau County strongholds.
“He went out the way he would have wanted to go,” his son Matthew, a top Long Island real estate consultant, said of remembrance services.
Smith’s community dedication was evident, especially with the Mineola Lions Club, which was renamed after him in 2000 and has raised more than $75,000 per year for the blind.
But for the Smith family, time with loved ones was crucial. Matthew recalls a firm 6 p.m. dinnertime from his mother, Evelyne, who passed away in 2014. Ed and Evelyne were married 67 years.
“He always made the dinner,” Matthew said.
Ed served in World War II for three years before spending two years in the Korean War. He worked in special ops for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a ski-trooper, jumping out of planes and interrogating German officers for the Allies. In Korea, Smith was in charge of bridge conflicts and rebuilds.
“He kept such detailed notes,” Smith said. “He moved up in rank [in Korea] and worked in intelligence.”
Ed founded Edward S. Smith & Co., a real estate giant focusing on Nassau and Suffolk counties, in 1949. Six years later, he established Smith & DeGroat, which Matt now runs.
“He was involved in everything,” Matthew said. “As a young kid, you remember him constantly going out to meetings and events.”
Ed felt representing Mineola strongly boded well for its future, Matthew said. He pointed out his father’s work with the New York Conference of Mayors as a highlight in his tenure.
“He thoroughly enjoyed representing Mineola,” said Matthew. “Being a mayor in that larger picture [with NYCOM] was big for him. But as much as he loved being a mayor, his civic stuff was dear to his heart.”
Today’s Mineola stewards remember Smith as a solid leader and Mineola mainstay.
“He was mayor when I was younger,” Mayor Scott Strauss said. “My father used to take me to village board meetings to see what was going on and certainly held him in high regard.”
Smith’s reach extended across both aisles, with two prominent local officials crediting their political start to him.
“He helped a lot of Republicans, but that didn’t mean he didn’t get along with Democrats,” Matthew said. “My dad got [state comptroller] Tom DiNapoli started in Mineola. [Ed] was just a good guy.”
Rich Nicolello, the second vice president of the Lions Club and a Nassau County legislator, said Smith’s hand helped guide him through uncharted political waters during the early years of his political career.
“He made me feel tremendously welcome in the Mineola area,” Nicolello said. “Personally, I have a lot of good memories from that time.”
The love for Smith was evident during services and the funeral, Matthew said. Numerous local clubs and officials had reps attended Smith’s funeral a few weeks ago. The Knights of Columbus guarded Smith during the wake. The Mineola Fire Department and Lions Club were also present.
“So many people came to support the family,” Mineola trustee Paul Cusato said.
Along with Matthew, Smith is survived by his sons Mark and Edward, along with nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Edward S. Smith Mineola Lions Club Blind Fund and can be sent to 27 E. Jericho Tpke., Mineola, NY 11501.
