Hugh Smith Obituary

Hugh William Smith, M.D., a devoted husband, accomplished surgeon, respected educator, and lifelong Staten Island resident, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025, at the age of 93.


Born on Staten Island on December 17, 1931, Dr. Smith embodied the values of dedication, service, and excellence throughout his life. After graduating from Manhattan College in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree, he pursued his passion for medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he earned his M.D. in 1957, graduating magna cum laude. He completed his rotating internship at St. Vincent's Hospital of New York City, followed by a surgical residency at the Bronx VA Hospital, ultimately serving as Chief Surgical Resident. His residency years also included specialized training at Bronx Municipal Hospital, Memorial Hospital of New York, and extensive work in animal surgery and surgical technique instruction at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.


Dr. Smith served his country as a Captain in the United States Army Medical Corps, on active duty from 1958 to 1960. Stationed at the 57th Full Field Hospital in Toul, France, he worked as a General Medical Officer before being honorably discharged in 1964.


His medical career on Staten Island was both long and distinguished. Dr. Smith began as an attending surgeon at St. Vincent's Medical Center of Staten Island in 1965, a role he held for decades. He also served at Bayley Seton Hospital, where he was both Attending Surgeon and Director of Surgery, as well as at Sea View Hospital & Home as Director of Surgery from 1972 onward. He contributed his surgical expertise to Doctor's Hospital of Staten Island and Carmel Richmond Nursing Home, and spent a decade on the staff at Staten Island Hospital, where he taught surgical technique to interns and residents.


In addition to his hospital work, Dr. Smith was committed to advancing medical education. He served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at SUNY Downstate Medical Center from 1980 onward, and earlier as Assistant Instructor in Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His dedication to sharing knowledge extended to authoring medical research, including a 1964 publication in the Transactions of the New York Academy of Science.


Dr. Smith's professional honors were many. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He served as President of the St. Vincent's Medical Center Medical Staff and the Richmond County Medical Society, and was active in numerous professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the New York State Medical Society, and the Brooklyn Surgical Society.


Through his many decades of practice, Dr. Smith became a trusted figure in the Staten Island medical community-known not only for his surgical skill, but also for his compassion, steady leadership, and commitment to improving patient care.


He is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Smith, his sister-in-law Peggy Russell, nephews John and Timothy Russell and a niece Meghan Cox as well as cousins. His life's work has left an indelible mark on the lives of his patients, students, colleagues, and the community he so faithfully served.


Visitation will be held at Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Avenue, Staten Island, NY, on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church, 1634 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY. Committal will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, 52 Tyler Avenue, Staten Island, NY, at 11:00 a.m.


Doctor Hugh William Smith's life was defined by service-to his patients, his profession, his country, and his community. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of physicians and all who had the privilege to know him.