Christopher Cunningham Smith

NAPLES, Fla. – Christopher Cunningham Smith, 84, of Naples, Fla. passed away peacefully on March 21, 2021 at Avow Hospice.

He was born Dec. 18, 1936 in Portland, Maine the son of Edward and Kathleen Smith. He graduated from Cheverus High School in Portland and then the University of Maine before serving in the Air Force.

His business career was centered around two driving forces. First, he owned JC Best carpet in South Portland followed by a lengthy real estate career in Maine and Naples, Fla.

He loved to travel and has seen many parts of the world. As an adult, he obtained dual citizenship in Ireland where he lived part time over a 20-year period.

His biggest passion was sports. In the late ’70s he paved part of his parking lot at JC Best and began a summer basketball league for high school and college aged boys and girls which was wildly popular. He also sponsored many tournaments bringing top collegiate programs to Maine as well as the Boston Celtics. He mentored many youths from all over New England through basketball giving jobs to many kids to come live with him in the summer and also taking boys and girls teams all over including Taiwan and England. As an avid Red Sox fan, he purchased season tickets to Fenway Park in 1977 which the family still has today.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Sheila Mcnabb and Kathleen Schidzigm, brother, Eddie Smith; daughter, Kelley Smith and son, Bradford Smith.

Survived by his wife, Katherine Hoffman Smith; three sons, Christopher Smith of Portland, Kevin Smith and wife Amy of Hampstead, N.C., and Dan Smith and wife Denise of Wilmington, N.C.; a brother, Paul Smith; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 28290 Beaumont Rd., Bonita Springs, FL 34134.

In lieu of flowers,

memorial contributions may be made to:

RJ Clientel

Consulting LLC

40 West 116th St.

Suite BH1201

New York, NY 10026

Attn: exodus NYC student athlete scholarship fund