Christopher A. Smith
Waterford — Christopher Alesbury “Coach” Smith passed away March 11, 2023, with his two daughters by his side.
Chris was born June 26, 1950, in Montclair, N.J., and attended public schools in Cheshire and Montclair, N.J., then Quinnipiac College and RCA Institute.
His wife, Connie, predeceased him in 2015. He was also predeceased by his parents, Kenneth A. and Eleanor Randle Smith.
He is survived by his daughters, Jess Smith and Tara Hardink, as well as Tara’s husband Joel and their children, Alexander and Ryan. As a dedicated and loving dad and grandpa, Chris will be remembered for his kindness, love, and dedication to his family. He spent time at many soccer and baseball games supporting his family.
Chris will be deeply missed by his partner, Cheryl Sorensen, who was able to share countless fun adventures with him over the last few years. He is also survived by his two brothers, Stewart and Peter Smith; as well as his stepson, Matthew Henry, including his wife, Heidi, and children, Will, Isabel and Abigail; and stepdaughter, Kelly Henry.
Chris spent three years in the construction field after serving active duty in the Army National Guard then Electric Boat, where he worked in Groton, Ballston Spa, N.Y., then in Barron in Furness, England. He retired after 34 years at EB. He then moved to Henderson, Nev., with his wife, Connie, where he worked as an Excalibur Security shift manager. After eight years, he moved back to Waterford.
Coaching football has always been a passion for Chris. While in England, he explained American football to locals (19 and up) and helped to establish the Furness Phantoms team. He quickly became a trusted football coach and by the second year he was the head coach entering a novice league. By the third year the team played in the second-highest league and won the Northern England Championship. Upon return to the states, he coached football at Waterford High School then as a voluntary coach at U.S. Coast Guard Academy for the next 17 years, all while still working full-time at EB.
He also enjoyed playing golf with his golf crew: Chris Cooper, Jeff Feldman, Rick Grigsby and Jorgen Zander.
Chris had a thoughtful, generous heart that will be remembered and cherished forever. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital Development Office Waterford Smilow Cancer Research, 365 Montauk Ave., New London, CT 06320.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. Interment will be private in St. Mary Cemetery. Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to leave the family an online condolence.