1929 – 2009 (July 23)
Cyril Joseph Smith was born on February 9, 1929, in McSherrystown, PA, one of three sons and six daughters of Paul F. Smith and Marie G. Lawrence. Cyril was baptized on February 10, 1929, at Annunciation BVM Church in McSherrystown, and attended Annunciation Parish School, and Delone Catholic High School, in McSherrystown. He completed his last year of high school, from 1945 to 1946, as a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, NY, and was admitted to the Order as a novice on September 9, 1946. Following his year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, he professed first vows on September 10, 1947. He then attended Villanova College and received his BA in Philosophy in 1951. He proceeded to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, for his theological studies, and also pursued an MS in Biology at the Catholic University of America. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1950. Cyril was ordained to the priesthood on February 5, 1955, at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, by Bishop John McNamara.
Father Smith was assigned to Saint John of Sahagun Friary and Archbishop Carroll High School, Washington, DC, where he served from 1955 to 1975, as a teacher, disciplinarian, and from 1962 as Vice-Rector, until he was appointed Rector in 1971. In 1975 he was assigned to Casa San Lorenzo and Biscayne College, Miami FL, where he served as Registrar until 1982. In that year he served as Assistant Principal at Bishop John Neumann High School, Golden Gate, FL. In 1985 he returned to Casa San Lorenzo and began serving at Msgr. Edward Pace High School, Miami, FL, as teacher, assistant principal, and supervisor of academic affairs and of religious services. In 1990 he was appointed prior and treasurer of Casa San Lorenzo. He spent all of his years of priestly ministry in education, and in every place he assisted at local parishes on weekends.
Father Smith died at Palm Springs Hospital, Hialeah, Florida, on July 23, 2009 with friars of his community and his sister, Sr. Louis, M.M.S. at his side. A Requiem Mass was celebrated at Little Flower Church in Hollywood on Tuesday, July 28th, and the Funeral Mass was celebrated two days later at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.
