Benjamin G. Smith

PORTLAND – Benjamin G. Smith, 83, died at home on Nov. 10, 2024, after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Ben was born on Jan. 17, 1941, in South Weymouth, Massachusetts to the late Donald and Dorothy (Sullivan) Smith. 

When Ben was a young child, his parents moved the family to Portland and then to Peaks Island, where he spent the majority of his childhood. Ben loved growing up as part of the close-knit island community and maintained friendships with his fellow islanders throughout his life. The oldest of 10 children, Ben attended Peaks Island schools and Portland High School before enlisting in the Air Force at the age of 17. While in the service, Ben was stationed in Libya during the Congo uprising, where he met the only other Mainer on the base, Paul Johnson, who became his life-long best friends. After his discharge from the Air Force, Ben continued his service to his country in the Communications Division of the Air National Guard, 243rd Squadron in South Portland.

After returning from Libya, Ben worked as a carpenter and then was employed at E. G. Foden and Century Tire; but his longest tenure was as a deputy sheriff with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department. While employed there, Ben served as a detention officer at the old county jail, a bailiff at the Portland District Court, a Court Officer for the Sheriff’s Dept. and Westbrook Police Dept., and Community Services Officer. Ben retired in 2011 after 32 years with the Sheriff’s Dept.

In 1963, Ben married Marion Hunnewell, with whom he had his two children, Tim and Theresa. Watching Tim and Theresa grow into successful, responsible adults and find their true life-mates was one of Ben’s greatest joys.

Ben married his current wife, Kristina “Tina” Joyce Smith, on Dec. 26, 1988, after having met at the Courthouse where Ben was serving as a Bailiff, and Tina was a practicing attorney. During their 36 years of marriage, Ben and Tina became close with each other’s extended families. Ben became the “goofy uncle” to Tina’s nephews and niece, with whom he celebrated life events and shared family gatherings at their camp on Crystal Lake, aptly named “The Looney-Ben” in homage to Ben.

Ben considered himself a historian and was especially interested in the Civil War. In researching his family history, he learned that his great- great- grandfather, Llewellyn Smith, served in the 9th Maine Regiment, Company I, during the Civil War. He also discovered that he had ancestors in the Revolutionary War and is a Mayflower descendant. Ben worked to obtain headstones through the Dept. of Defense for several Civil War soldiers, including his great-great-grandfather, whose burial plots were unmarked and organized ceremonies when those gravestones were placed. Ben also authored several articles about the Civil War, including one on Llewellyn Smith published in the Civil War Times. Ben was formerly a member of the T W Hyde chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans in Bath.

Ben was a self-taught but skilled carpenter who was happiest when working on a project. He especially enjoyed building birdhouses, many of which adorned his backyard. He also used his talents to build his own frames and display boxes for many of the historical artifacts he collected. Ben was a lover of all animals and would stop traffic to rescue an injured animal in the road. He also rescued several birds and cared for them until they were healthy enough to be released back into nature. Ben was a caring person who had a memorable sense of humor which he maintained throughout his cancer ordeal.

Ben was predeceased by his sister, Barbara Davis; and brother, Donald Smith. He is survived by his wife, Tina Smith; son, Timothy and his wife, Susan Smith; daughter, Theresa and her husband Kevin Murray; and his beloved love bird, Bailey; grandchildren, Kellsey and Katelyn Smith; sisters, Bonnie Petillo, Cindy Dennison, Debbie Dow, Maryann Graffam, and Peggy Tuttle; brothers, Robert McTigue, Jr. and Michael McTigue. Ben will be missed by Tina’s siblings, Karen Joyce, Kevin Joyce, Kendra Grover, and Kenneth Joyce, their spouses, children, and many other beloved extended family members. 

The family wishes to express special thanks to the Maine Cancer Center, especially Dr. Andrew Rogers and his nurse, Heidi, and the whole team involved in his care, including the scheduling personnel, nursing staff, and infusion therapy team, as well as to his Maine Health Palliative Care Team, Dr. Elise Reid and Kelsey Hayes. Ben felt extremely fortunate to have had such a capable and compassionate care team during his four years fighting cancer. A big thank you also to the staff of Southern Maine Hospice for their wonderful guidance during Ben’s last days.

Visiting hours will be held from 3 – 6 p.m., on Nov. 18, 2024, at Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., on Nov. 19, 2024, at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland.

To view Ben’s memorial page, or to leave a condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ben’s memory to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, 217 Landing Rd,

Westbrook, ME 04092.