Former East Norwich Fire Chief Clinton S. Smith Dies

EAST NORWICH, NY — Clinton S. "Clint" Smith, a lifelong resident of East Norwich who served in many official capacities throughout his life, including that of the Town of Oyster Bay Harbor Master and chief of the East Norwich Fire Department, died on April 26.

Smith active in the fire company for 72 years, serving not just as chief, but as past president, as well as past president of the East Norwich Firemen’s Benevolent Association.

Affectionately referred to as “Clint” by those who knew him, Clinton served on various committees, including the fire company’s Board of Trustees. He worked for the Town of Oyster Bay for 35 years.

He started work as an arborist in 1957, and during that time, he ran a mooring and towing company part-time. In 1969, he took up a post at Oyster Bay’s Department of Beaches and was the first Harbor Master to have Peace Officer status and served as the chairman of the Mooring Committee for Oyster Bay Harbor.

As Harbor Master, he established a grid pattern for anchorage areas and applied through the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for special anchorage, which allowed for a mooring area that included channel systems.

After 20 years as Harbor Master, Clinton was promoted to Supervisor of Waterways and Conservation where he worked until his retirement. He was also one of the founders and presidents of the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation from 1991 until 2002, and the corporation was reactivated in 2009 with the replica of the Oyster Dreg “Ida May” at the Western Waterfront Center.

Clinton is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann, his daughters, Jennifer (Andrew) Loughlin and Tamara (Mark) Todd, as well as his grandchildren, Sarah, Heather, Mary and Kelly Loughlin, and Christopher (Megan), Kyle and Laura Todd. He is also survived by his brother, Roy (Margaret), his brother-in-law, Robert Pepin, and his “loyal coffee buddy,” James Lehmann, according to family.

He was a friend to all who knew him and will be missed by many, family said.

Visiting with be at the East Norwich Volunteer Fire Company 900 Oyster Bay Rd. on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. COVID-19 restrictions will apply and masks will be required. The funeral service at Christ Church in Oyster Bay on Friday will have limited capacity. It it will be live-streamed on the church’s YouTube channel starting at 11 a.m.