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Doug Smith Memoriam 2017

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In Memoriam - DOUGLAS "DOUG" SMITH
Reporter - Author - Baseball Enthusiast - 1935 - 2017
by Rick Henn

Those of you that missed Doug Smith's farewell party and program at our public meeting in March of 2016, you missed a great show and a very fun evening. For those of you that didn't know Doug, he was a member of the society forever (at least to my memory) and has been a dedicated railfan, photographer and train rider his whole life. He shared many of his photographs and movies in the program and they spanned steam to diesel in many parts of the world. The number of rail miles he had amassed was astounding. Now, even the most carefully planned program can have an error in it and Doug found it himself. This is what he had to say in his best reporter voice. "In his parting address, life Member Doug Smith reported that in Cortland, NY, he lives within sight of an old Delaware Lackawanna & Western spur. Immediate investigation has disclosed it as a Lehigh Valley line, which once ran from East Ithaca to Canastota, with a change of trains in Freeville. He apologized to all "Lehigholics" for this grievous error..." The railroad gods must have shown favor on Doug that evening because he left to applause and not tarred and feathered. Thanks Doug for a great show and many wonderful memories.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire WNYRHS, we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Polly, his daughter Holly, son Joe and all of his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Doug's daughter Holly Smith Jaquith put together a wonderful photo collage that celebrated Doug's life. The collage was shared with his family and friends at his wake at the "Zirbel Funeral Home" in Groton, New York. At our March 17th, 2016 "WNYRHS Public Meeting" , Doug and his wife of 57 years Polly, were the guests of honor where he put on a wonderful presentation.

Here is a link to "Niagara Frontier Publications" covering Northtown's News that highlights some of Doug's many accomplishments.

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