Obituary of Robert Joseph Smith

Robert Joseph Smith affectionately called “Tada” was born on February 1, 1926, in Boston, Mass to Conway and Gladys Smith. Robert was one of ten children from this union. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. Tada departed this life on July 4, 2021, due to natural causes. Tada worked many years as a pedeller selling fruits, vegetables and flowers. He was also known in the neighborhood as the candy man. Everyone knew they could always count on him to have what they needed. Tada was a laid-back gentle soul who was loved by many. His favorite past-time included spending time with his family, friends sharing war stories and bad jokes over some scotch. He loved betting horses and scratching lottery tickets until his fingernails turned gray. Robert met and married the love of his life, the late Estelle Smith, on July 7, 1955, and from that union came 8 children. Deborah, Robert, Estelle, Gladys, Richard, Susanne, Charles and Inez. Robert was proceeded in death by his parents Conway and Gladys Smith, his wife Estelle, daughters Edith and Roberta, son Richard, siblings Conway, William, Francis, Raymond, Roy, Dorothy, Davis, Charles and Beverly. Robert leaves to cherish his memory, his children Deborah (Tony), Robert (Kim), Estelle, Gladys, Susie (Rick), Charles and Inez; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great, great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. We Will Miss You Forever, TADA The words wouldn’t come but they were there all along. Our grandfather, our father, and to most of us our first and only father figure. Everyday we saw each other whether it be weeks, months or days whenever we were all together it was just like yesterday. The love was obvious and overflowing. Most people couldn’t and didn’t understand it but our love was there plain and simple. Our rock, our patriarch, the bigger than life figure; never did we think that you would ever leave. We always thought that we had all of the time in the world with you, but these past 4 or 5 months we witnessed you getting smaller, weaker, less vibrant, less of yourself we all knew that our time with you was winding down, but still we thought we would have more time. Time…so we put off seeing you, being with you because we never thought the inevitable would ever be our actual. We had you to lean on our entire lives and was so spoiled by the fact that you were always there, never did we believe that our Superman, would get sick, would get weak, and would leave us, we always thought there was more time. We take solace in the fact that you are no longer in pain and you are reunited with the love of your life! Our matriarch, you spent so many years apart from her and no one thought it was feasible, but you did it for us and this we do for you. We let you go. Fly high for soldiers don’t die they just fade away. Love eternally, Us