JAMES M. (SHANE) SMITH
James M. (Shane) Smith, 69, of Norwich, passed away Tuesday morning, April 4, 2017, at the Bassett Hospital of Cooperstown.
Shane was born on May 22, 1947 in Sidney, NY the son of George and Margaret (Peggy) (Gadwood) Smith. He attended and graduated from the Sidney schools where he was a member of the baseball, track and football teams. Shane continued his education by attending SUNY Delhi and SUCO earning his degrees in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Psychology. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Shane served his country from December of 1967 until his honorable discharge in July of 1969. Shane served as a Battalion Scout in H & S Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, where he received the Silver Star, the Naval Marine Corp Accommodation Medal with Combat V, and 2 Purple Hearts.
Shane was employed for the past 18 years by the Oneonta Job Corps Academy, as Chief Overhead Line Instructor for the Advanced Training Program, which he was instrumental in building. A natural born teacher and leader he had an impact on many of his students lives. He was a person who would accept people as they were, without judgement.
Throughout his life Shane was always active, as mentioned earlier he was a member of the school baseball, track and football teams. He would go on to umpire for over 20 years in the Otsego County area, umpiring everything from Little League to Semi-Pro Baseball. Applying his natural talent as a teacher and mentor he coached Little League teams in both Oneonta and Norwich.
Shane was known to be a firm but fair man, not only in raising his family but in any of his dealings with students and athletes. He was a humble man, with a great sense of humor, loved a good joke, and had a dry sarcastic whit. In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking and was an avid Civil War buff.
Shane had done it all from working as store security, a ranch hand in Colorado, running a deli and logging company , an electrician and owning and operating the Shire Pub in Delhi.
On December 1, 1989 he married Deborah Lueth who survives. Besides his wife Debbie, Shane is survived by his sons Chasen and Sean Smith both of Norwich, his sister Judi Van Why of FL, nephew and nieces, and his mother-in-law Nancy Fotre Wetsel and husband Lloyd.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Shane will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Sidney during the last week of April at a time to be announced. Friends may call at the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home of Norwich on Thursday, April 13, from 5-8 pm.
Shane’s illness was due to Mantle Cell Lymphoma. In lieu of flowers please consider memorial contributions to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, 115 Broadway, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10006. Please make check’s payable to the Lymphoma Research Foundation and that it is in memory of Shane (James). Also include who the gift should be acknowledged to.