David Allen Smith Was Cook, Avid Fisherman

David Allen (Smitty) Smith of Cottonwood Lane in Edgartown died unexpectedly on Saturday, July 27, at the Falmouth Hospital. He was 48 years of age.

Dave was born in New Bedford on Dec. 8, 1953, the son of the late Walter F. Smith and the late Dorothy Hayes.

He was graduated from the New Bedford High School in 1971. He worked as a chef for various restaurants in New Bedford and at St. Luke's Hospital as a pastry chef. He moved to Colorado in 1976 to pursue his love of cooking for the following year. Dave came to Martha's Vineyard to visit his brother in 1978 and never left, becoming a cook at the Kelley House.

He began his second career as a quality painter on his own since the early 1980s under the name of David Smith Painting and Restorations.

He was an avid and well-known fisherman, and he greatly enjoyed the fishing derbies. Dave won many fishing awards but none was more important to him than when he and son, Zach, were presented with the 1996 Beaulieu-Loud Memorial award.

Dave also was well-known for his dedicated involvement with the Island youth baseball leagues. He coached minor league and served as the commissioner of the Babe Ruth League.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia MacDonald Smith of 12 years of marriage; two step-children, Magdalena MacDonald-Baird and Zachary MacDonald-Baird, both of Edgartown; his two brothers, Michael Smith of Edgartown and Stephen Smith of Mattapoisett; two sisters, Patricia Carpenter and Susan Jones, both of Homasassa, Fla., and many nieces and nephews and extended family.

His funeral service will be held at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs at noon on Thursday, August 1. Interment in the New Westside Cemetery will follow. Visiting hours are on Wednesday evening, July 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.