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Obituary

Port Richmond High School
Manhattan Community College

spending time with his family
pitching
Gene Thomas softball league
New York Yankees
New York Jets
VFW Post No.1578
darts
pool

Roy Edward Smith, 67, of Upper West Brighton section of Staten Island, N.Y., passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2017, from 9/11-related lung cancer caused by his service at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 attacks.
Born in Staten Island, he was the son of the late Anna Lukasiewicz Smith and John Pershing Smith.

Roy is survived by his wife of 44 years and high school sweetheart, Olga Nichols Smith, a.k.a. "Oogie;" his two daughters, Melissa Erdelyi and Melanie Smith, whom he loved with all his heart, and his two grandchildren, Brielle Smith and Blake Erdelyi, whom he lived for; his love is eternal.

Roy attended and graduated from PS 22, IS 51, Port Richmond High School and Manhattan Community College, where he obtained his associate's degree. Joining the United States Air Force at age 17, Roy quickly rose through the ranks, achieving the rank of United States Air Force sergeant, and became the youngest staff sergeant in the USAF when he was promoted to that rank at that time. Roy proudly served in the USAF for four years and was a Vietnam veteran, where he was assigned as an air traffic controller in Phu Bai.

Prior to being selected as a member of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), Roy was the original proprietor of Giggles in Stapleton. At age 36, Roy was the oldest "Probie" to serve at that time. Roy proudly served the FDNY in the capacity as a firefighter and union delegate at Engine 16, Ladder 7, in Manhattan and Engine 156 "Broadway Express" in Staten Island, where he retired from after 20 years of dedicated service.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Roy was on duty and responded to the call after the first hijacked airliner struck the World Trade Center. Roy's acts of heroism are not surprising. He was a brave and fearless man and a devout patriot. Roy will always be one of New York's Bravest.

He loved his brothers at the firehouse; spending time with his family and grandchildren; pitching on the Gene Thomas softball league, where he was nicknamed "Cat Smith" for being the strikeout pitcher; watching his New York Yankees and Jets; attending the Henry and Stanley Chichon VFW Post No.1578 and playing in his organized dart and pool leagues, which he excelled in. Roy was a funny guy who loved his road trips with his friends.