The Capital
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Jerry Smith may have had only one biological daughter, but he had many others he considered his “kids.”
An Annapolis firefighter for over four decades, he was known to take many other department members under his wing, daughter Kirsten Hair said.
“It wasn’t just a job to him, that’s where a part of his family was,” Hair said.
Hundreds of people, including dozens of members of Smith’s extended family donning blue fire department uniforms and caps, gathered Friday at Annapolis’ St. Anne’s Parish on Church Circle to pay their final respects to the former city fire chief and longtime public servant.
Smith, 69, who served as the city’s fire chief from 2005 until his retirement in 2010, died Wednesday at his home in Harwood after battling cancer for several years.
A fire engine parked near the front of the church was adorned with a black sash. Several other engines, ambulances and other fire department vehicles could be seen parked along West Street.
Following the funeral, Smith’s family attended a private burial. A reception was held at the St. Anne’s Parrish house on Duke of Gloucester Street.Lt. Carroll Spriggs, president of the city’s firefighter union, of which Smith was a charter member, was one of those that Smith mentored during his 43-year career in the department.
“For me personally, he was a second father,” Spriggs said. “We talked every single day even after his retirement.” The day after Smith died, Spriggs said he called Smith’s home just to hear his voice on his answering machine.
Smith wanted to be a firefighter since he was young and hung around firehouses beginning in his adolescence, Hair said. His daughter said if she had to guess why her father loved being a firefighter, it would be the sense of “family.”
Smith, like his daughter, was raised an only child, Hair said. “That was his passion, he loved being there,” Hair said. “No matter what was going on in his life, he had the fire department.”
Smith would take time to ask fellow firefighters specific questions about their lives and would listen to them when they talked, Spriggs said.
“It amazed me how he could remember (something) specific about people and their families,” he said. “It wasn’t just a job to him - it was family.”
Smith grew up in the city and on the water. He loved boating, fishing and crabbing, Hair said.He graduated from Annapolis High School 1961. He was hired as a firefighter in August 1966. Smith is the only firefighter to hold every rank in the department - from firefighter to fire chief.
He served as the department’s Emergency Medical Services Officer from 1980 to 1982. During that time the department expanded its level of EMS care by training Cardiac Rescue Technicians and Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics.Smith served the bulk of his career as a Battalion Chief, being promoted in 1982 and assigned as a shift commander until he was tapped as the department’s Deputy Chief of Emergency Services in 2005. In August of that year, he was named acting Fire Chief.
He held the position until he was confirmed in October 2007. He retired in 2010 as the departments fourth career Fire Chief.In addition to his daughter and the firefighters he had mentored throughout the years, Smith is survived by his wife of 48-years, Linda, son-in-law John Hair, and three grandsons Wesley, 14; Jack, 11; and Benjamin, 7.Smith had a particularly close relationship with his oldest grandson who had been diagnosed with the genetic disorder, Williams Syndrome, when he was an infant, Hair said. He would frequently drive his daughter and his grandson to Baltimore for doctors appointments.
Deputy Chief Douglas Remaley, 45, has known Smith his entire life. Smith served with Remaley’s grandfather, also a city firefighter, and watched as he climbed through the ranks, he said.
“Chief Smith knew me when I was born,” Remaley said. Before Smith retired he appointed Remaley to Deputy Chief, he said.
“Chief Smith watched me climb through the ranks from firefighter to Deputy Chief,” Remaley said. “He always provided guidance and leadership throughout my career.
“Smith spent his life alongside firefighters up until his death. In his final days, members of the city’s firefighter union stayed with Smith and his family at their Harwood home in 12-hour shifts."A piece of our family is gone,” Spriggs said.
Hundreds of people, including dozens of members of Smith’s extended family donning blue fire department uniforms and caps, gathered Friday at Annapolis’ St. Anne’s Parish on Church Circle to pay their final respects to the former city fire chief Jerry Smith.
Firefighters, friends and family comfort each other outside St. Anne’s Church on Friday after the funeral of former Annapolis Fire Chief Jerry Smith. Smith died Wednesday at his home in Harwood after battling cancer for several years.
Firefighters, friends and family comfort each other outside St. Anne’s Church on Friday after the funeral of former Annapolis Fire Chief Jerry Smith.
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