Vincent Smyth, U.S. Army Veteran From Huntington, Dies At 86

HUNTINGTON, NY — Vincent A. Smyth, a U.S. Army veteran and Huntington resident, died on March 6. He was 86.

Smyth was born on Oct. 14, 1937 in the Glasnevin neighborhood of Dublin, Ireland to Joseph and Mary Hoban Smyth. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary "May," and his four children, Elizabeth Flynn [Edward], Vincent Jr., Edmund [Coriander], and Nancy, and his 12 grandchildren, Jacqueline Mills (Andrew), Edward, Broderick, Bridget, Lindsey, Vincent III, Harlan, Edmund, Jr., Lily, Sarah, Anthony, and Luke. Vincent Smyth’s three older sisters, Doris, Sylvia, and Patricia predecease him.

Smyth was the father of the Town of Huntington supervisor, Ed Smyth.

"Vince" emigrated alone to the United States in 1959 with $40 and little else. After working a series of odd jobs, including a stint in the Chicago Meatpackers Union, he enlisted in the United States Army.

While in the Third Infantry Division in Germany, he earned his high school GED and his U.S. citizenship. He rose to the rank of sergeant.

After his honorable discharge from the army, he met the love of his life, May Taggart, while working at American Airlines. After a three-year courtship they married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC. With May’s unconditional (and non-negotiable) support, Vince received his Bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York, an MBA from Baruch College, and a law degree from New York Law School.

Settling his family in Huntington in 1971, Vince served on the Huntington School Board and various civic and philanthropic organizations. He was a practicing lawyer in Huntington for 30 years. He was a gifted mathematician, a voracious reader of history and true crime books, a fan of Johnny Cash, and an avid golfer who frequently reminded everyone he had won the Huntington Crescent Club Class C+ championship (in 1984).

"Vince had a wickedly funny sense of humor, and was a gifted Irish storyteller, who was not shy about embellishing the facts for the benefit of his audience," the Town of Huntington shared.

After several major surgeries, doctors recommended retirement. Vincent moved May and himself to Stuart, Florida. At Sailfish Point he made many new friends and again got involved with many civic and philanthropic organizations.

"Vincent lived life to the fullest, despite battling a variety of life-threatening illnesses for 30 years. A devout Catholic, he received Last Rites no less than seven times (the first time as a severely burned toddler)."

He died peacefully in his sleep with May nearby.

"He received all life’s blessings and challenges with grace and dignity," the town wrote.