Francis Emmet Smith, M.D.

Francis Emmet Smith, M.D. passed away peacefully at home on July 21, 2020 at age 92. He was born in 1927 in Watertown Massachusetts, the eldest of twelve children to the late Emmet Francis Smith and Anastasia Rose Kelley. Oldest brother to the late Marjorie, James, Kenneth, Marie, Virginia, Kathleen, Robert and Charlotte (infant death) and is survived by siblings Thomas, Dorothy and Margaret. He was a loving husband to Patricia Ann (Balboni) Smith and father to Francis (Lenore), Kathleen (Nicholas Barker), Leo (Stella), Susan (Richard Powers), Christopher (Lily Mae), Michael, Patricia (partner, Charles Ingersoll), Matthew (Elle Nugent), Kristen Hill, Nora, and Stacie (Christopher Capotosto). He was a wonderful Papa to his 16 grandchildren: Frankie, Loryn, Andrew, Hayley; Emma and Evan Barker; Emmet Powers; Patricia, Warren and Nora; Roan and Genevieve; Charlotte and Cavan Hill; Luca and August Capotosto.

Drafted into the army in 1946, Frank worked in the x ray department. He always told us he peeled potatoes. Inspired by what he learned in the army, he returned to Boston College pre - med on the GI bill graduating in 1950; then Tufts Medical School in 1954. He completed his internship and residency at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Brighton, MA. He volunteered as the physician for the Jesuits in Chestnut Hill for many years. 

He met the love of his life, Patricia Ann Balboni, at St. Elizabeth’s and they married 1957.  Attempting to match his parents, Frank and Pat brought eleven children into the world. They planned ahead and with two babies in 1961, they moved into a 6 bedroom “fixer upper” in Newton, MA. Frank spent weekends for the next 25 years tearing down walls, plastering and painting. He enjoyed summers boating and winters skiing in the late 70s and 80s in another purchased “fixer upper” in New Hampshire on Lake Winnisquam where he would dig out a basement, tear down walls and plaster and paint that house as well. Pat and Frank downsized and moved to Belmont, MA in 1986 with the four youngest. They became lectors at St. Joseph’s Church in Belmont and stayed connected with their growing extended family. Pat went to work at Frank’s office in 1990 and finally got him home for dinner after 25 years of leftovers. In the mid 1980s, fascinated with the technology of the emerging home computer, Frank taught himself to code and purchased the original MacIntosh computer. As technology improved, so did Frank’s knowledge. He upgraded and followed the trends until his stroke at age 87.

President of Brighton Internists, Inc. affiliated with Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA Frank was a noted diagnostician in the Boston area and taught medical students his craft. He was loved by his patients and sorely missed when he retired at age 70 to spend half the year in Naples, Florida finally playing the golf he neglected while working. He and Pat volunteered over 10 years at a clinic in Naples, seeing patients and working with the community. Besides golf in his later years, he enjoyed trips to Ireland, Italy & Alaska, visits to New Hampshire, Colorado and California to visit grandkids, outdoor music concerts and dinner theater in Naples with Pat. Frank was a voracious reader of newspapers, medical journals and books. Even as dementia took away his short - term memory, he would pour over the newspaper each morning. He loved to learn. It was a thoughtful life of service and love. It was a life well lived. His offspring will remember this intelligent, soft spoken, sweet man and carry him with them forever.

Visiting hours in the MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald funeral home 270 Main St. Watertown Monday July 27, 2020 from 4-8pm. Those over 60 & those with underlying health conditions may visit between 4-5 pm, all others are invited to attend between 5-8 pm. Due to the current precautions surrounding Covid-19, please abide by the social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Funeral Mass and interment will be private. Francis’s Funeral Mass & interment will be live streamed for friends and family to watch.  Please visit www.macdonaldrockwell.com for the link to the live stream service

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Frank’s name may be made to the American Heart Association www.heart.org or to United Service Organizations www.uso.org

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