FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, ORONO and BANGOR – Albert Herbert Smaha, 93, died peacefully June 8, 2017 at St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor, surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 6, 1924 in Lawrence, MA, son of Herbert K. and Nellie J. (Kelley) Smaha.
Albert attended Deering High School, Portland, Maine, graduating with honors as a Tri Captain in football, basketball and baseball. He attended the University of Maine, Orono and served in the U.S. Army during WWII. After the war, he returned home to join the family grocery business, Columbia Market Company. Following a successful career in the grocery business, he founded Columbia Real Estate in Bangor. Al was dedicated to the Catholic churches in Bangor and Orono and served on the executive committee of the Portland Archdiocese for many years. Al was given the distinct honor of being voted by the YMCA as one of the 10 Most Outstanding Young Men nationally in 1962.
Albert was predeceased by his wife, Jeanne (Brooks) Smaha in 2006, and also predeceased by his wife of 8 years, Janet (Drum) Johnson Smaha, and his brother, Donald Smaha. Surviving are four children, Robert “Skip” Smaha and his wife, Dianne of Concord, NH, Sandra J. Conaboy of North Kingston, RI, Kathryn A. Smaha of Hampden, and Gregory Brooks Smaha and his wife, Evelyn of Old Town; lovingly known as Banka to his thirteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Emily “Sis” Delmonaco and Norma “Babe” Truman and her husband, Ted, all of Scarborough; nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be held 11 am Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York Street, Bangor followed by the Rite of Committal with military honors at Riverside Cemetery, Bennoch Road, Orono. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and buffet at the Penobscot Valley Country Club, Orono, immediately following the services Wednesday. Those who wish to remember Albert in a special way may make gifts in his memory to St. Joseph Healthcare, P.O. Box 1638, Bangor, ME 04402-1638. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
To order
memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Albert Smaha, please visit our
flower store.