Dana Bogardus Smith

Dana Bogardus Smith, 94, of Goshen, MA, passed away on August 31, after a long and full life.

Dana was born on November 30, 1927, to Henry Boynton Smith and Constance Bogardus Smith in Meriden, CT.  After graduating from Choate High School for Boys, he served briefly in the Navy. Luckily, WWII was winding down and he was not sent overseas and was spared the experience of combat.  After returning home, he used the GI bill to attend Yale University in New Haven, CT.

After college, and full of excitement and wanderlust, Dana and his brother Henry trekked to Alaska in a Model T.  They returned with many stories of their adventures, exploits, and the occasional bear. After returning from Alaska, he landed a job as an architect for Granbury Cash, and then in 1977, Dana landed a new job as a manager for the Project Management & Construction department at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, where he worked until his retirement in 2000. 

 In 1960, he met the young and newly widowed Susan Harrington Fisk.  They wed the following year in Haydenville, MA.  In addition to raising Susan’s infant son Elisha (from her first marriage), Dana and Susan had four children of their own: Johannah, Evan, Jamie, and Molly.

After living in their vibrantly painted home in New Haven, CT for 36 years, Dana and Susan made their new home in Goshen, MA, where Dana’s grandfather built a summer home in 1900.  The house sits high atop a hill, with a breathtaking view of rolling fields, dense forest, the Lower Highland Lake, and the endless and bright, big, blue Goshen sky.  Goshen was truly his most cherished place. 

In addition to being an avid reader, Dana was a renaissance hobbyist - from model trains on tracks circling the basement, to model airplanes, to assembling go-karts, building swing sets, and making forts for his kids and grandkids. And forever working outside on his cars and tractors (or anything with wheels or a motor), often in the dead of winter.

Though an architect by trade, he was a painter and sculptor by heart. He could often be found in his favorite place, his quiet basement, surrounded by his brightly colored paints and clay, all while listening to his favorite operas and classical music.   This was his happy place, interrupted occasionally by some fiasco his children (sometimes grown) may have gotten into.

He was all at once, lovable, hilarious, wise, stubborn, fervent, cantankerous, and overly cautious. In addition to his many hobbies and interests, he was an avid napper and could often be found napping at any time of the day - since there are no napping parameters in adulthood.

Napping, brownies, and chocolate milkshakes were staples in his life, particularly in the later years.  

Years ago, with a sparkle in his eye, he told us that on his gravestone, he wanted the words “Done Tinkering” to be written.

And so, they will.

And so too, is he.

Dana leaves his beloved wife of 61 years, Susan, his daughter Johannah (Tom), Evan (Jennifer), Jamie, Molly (Victoria). He was predeceased by his older brother Henry and his eldest son Elisha. He also leaves his sister Angela Gewecke, and his niece Heidi (Gary) and nephew Cyrus (Aja).  Additionally, he leaves four beloved grandchildren: Rachel, Sam, Noah, and Evan.

In lieu of flowers, please send your favorite Dana memory to us at Smith Family PO Box 846 Goshen MA, 01032 0r to mollysmith132@gmail.com.

Please join us for a celebration of Dana’s life on Saturday, September 24th at 12noon at The Big House in Goshen MA. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dana Bogardus Smith, please visit our floral store.