Rev. Walter Smith

Waterbury-Fr. Walter Smith, Class of 2004, reposed in the Lord on the evening of May14, 2016 at the rectory of Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, (St. Mary’s Orthodox Church) Waterbury CT. 

A native of the state of Montana, Fr. Walter’s first career was as a professor of art history and art gallery curator/director. He has taught and directed art galleries in Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Mississippi. A convert, he was received into the Orthodoxy at Holy Trinity Church of Kansas City, Kan., in 1996. In 2001, he took up full-time study at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan, Pa. Smith was ordained a priest in 2003, and graduated from the Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in May 2004.

Since his ordination, Fr. Walter served in several parishes: Holy Trinity Church, McAdoo Pennsylvania, Holy Trinity Church, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church back in Missoula, Montana, and most recently began serving at Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, Waterbury, CT.

Presbytera Nancy Smith, who received her Ph.D. in art history from the University of Chicago in 2000, taught art history at Marywood University in Scranton Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2006. She has also trained as a painter and iconographer, producing icons for Holy Trinity Church in Moose Jaw.  Father Walter and Presbytera have one adult daughter, Flora. He has three sisters, Theresa McCarthy, Kathleen Donahue, and Patricia Hemphill, and one brother, William Smith. He was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Helen (McGeever) Smith.

May Fr. Walter’s memory be eternal.  Please remember Presbytera Nancy, Flora, his siblings, and the faithful of The Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church in your prayers.

 
 
Calling hours for Fr. Walter will be held on Friday May 20, 2016 from 4-6p.m. at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Waterbury, followed by a funeral service for a priest, beginning at 6p.m.  A Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday May 21, 2016 at 9:30a.m. at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, followed by burial in St. Mary’s Orthodox Parish Cemetery, Stillson Road, Waterbury.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, 3125 North Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06704.  The Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, is assisting the family with arrangements.  To send an on-line condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com

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