Howard C. "Hawk" Smith

Beacon Falls- Howard C. “Hawk” Smith Jr, passed away on Saturday December 13, 2025 at Waterbury Hospital on hospice surrounded by his  devoted loving family.  He was 68 years old, and passed peacefully. 

Born in Waterbury, CT on February 28, 1957, he was the son of the late Howard C. Smith, Sr. and Margaret Nancy (Rau) Smith.  Howard was a proud lifelong resident of Beacon Falls and was currently working at Tri State Equipment in Oxford for the past fourteen years as a master diesel mechanic.

 Hawk loved taking his family on adventures all over the region to explore waterfalls, nature, old country stores, mountains, and historical sites.  He was especially proud of his daughters and loved them immensely,  also a proud “ papa.”  He was an expert on sharing his knowledge of automobiles, firearms and historical sites, Hawk had an impressive memory. His family will be honored to continue his legacy.

He leaves his family to cherish his memory, daughters Rachel Amy Smith of Fort Pierce, FL, and Michele Smith Chapel (David) of France; his true love Kim Tupper; his brother Martin Smith (Nancy); his twin sisters Kathryn Taylor (Duane) and Christine Feeney (Tom); his seven beloved grandchildren, Dylan, Michael, Kyle, Eva, Lucie, Jules, and Louis; his niece Leah Feeney and “adopted” son Cody Muth.

A Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, 25 Maple Avenue in Beacon Falls.  Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery in Naugatuck, CT.  Visitation will be held on Friday April 10, 2026 from 5-7 p.m. at the Naugatuck Valley  Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main Street in Naugatuck.  To send an online condolence or share a memory, please visitwww.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com    

A special thank you to the hospice team at Accentcare in Middlebury, CT for being there when we needed you the most.   In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Accent Health Care of Middlebury, CT (www.seasonsfoundation.org), or the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 640, 388 High Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770.

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