Obituary of David Shane Daniel Smith
December 30, 1966 – February 19, 2019
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Shane, our warrior, after a valiant battle with a rare neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 52. Loving husband to Deanna, devoted Dad to Brooklynne and Zachary, cherished son of David and Cathy, brother of Jeffrey of Toronto, son-in-law of Dino and Josephine (2000) Di Maurizio, brother-in-law to Lisa and Patrick Paroyan and uncle of Joshua and Angelise. He will be greatly missed by his furry companion Jackson, who never left his side and showered him with kisses every day. He leaves behind many Uncles, Aunts and Cousins of the Landry and Smith families in St. Catharines, London, Calgary, Florida, Connecticut, New Jersey, Minnesota and Virginia.
Shane was very generous, sponsoring sports teams, individual children, for hockey and dance as well as many charities. He served as a board member for the Thorold Chamber of Commerce BIA, St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation, St. Catharines Golf and Country Club, integral to the building of the Meridian Centre in Fonthill and the Pelham Minor Hockey Association. He never missed his children’s dance or sporting events and volunteered as manager or trainer on the hockey bench or soccer field.
A talented hockey and lacrosse player, bowler, ball player and avid golfer for the CYO and Spartans, the YABA league at Pla-Mor bowling lanes, Grantham Optimist, St. Catharines Minor Baseball, and Slo-Pitch Ontario. Shane was a member of the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club and Lookout Point in Fonthill where he made lifelong friendships and won many tournaments. Other than the great love for his family, Shane’s favourite things were Christmas, Disney, hosting parties, his swimming pool and travelling, where he created wonderful memories for his family to cherish.
Shane enjoyed a successful career, where he was promoted to the North American Director of Purchasing in Ohio for DANA Corporation. Then became president and owner of Welland Forge.
Special thanks for the exceptional care Shane received from Dr. J.A. Henry, Dr. Monica Bertolo, the Oncology team of the vigilant Dr. Yelamanchili, Dr. Bokhari, our angel on earth Nurse Colleen Bredin at the Walker Family Cancer Centre, the Oncology team of Dr. Singh, Dr. Patafio and Sopriya Lamb at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital. Many thanks to the nurses Kim Bradshaw and Stephanie Stuart of St. Elizabeth’s and Dr. Dooler and Sue Battersby-Campbell for his palliative home care. Shane was proud to be the first candidate in Canada to participate in a drug trial for his type of cancer to help advance the research for NETs (neuroendocrine tumours). Finally, the family would like to thank the staff and Dr. Kerley at Hospice Niagara, for their compassionate care and support in Shane’s final days.
Visitation will take place at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines, on Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and Sunday, February 24, 2019 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. with Vigil Prayers being held at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Alfred Roman Catholic Church, 272 Vine St., St. Catharines, on Monday, February 25, 2019 at 11 a.m. Rite of Committal will follow Mass at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, Queenston St., St, Catharines. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Walker Family Cancer Centre or to Hospice Niagara
Eulogy
David Shane Daniel Smith
Was born December 30 1966 on his father David’s 19th birthday. Mom and Dad were just 18 and 19 but they were both determined to make sure their new family was as happy as possible! My mom and dad say Shane was a strong willed baby and determined from the get go. Even as a young boy, he knew what he wanted and went after it. This determination served him his entire life! I showed up 31/2 years later in 1970 to complete the young family of four. All you need to know is, we Smiths had very long stylish hair for the time but more importantly, we had lots of love, lots of fun and lots of laughter while we grew as a family. When Shane was 10 years old he decided it was time for him to be a ‘big boy’ and go alone on his bike to the golf course to practice his new favourite sport. Mom and Dad reluctantly decided to give him a chance, so off he rode, on his bike to the Fairview Mall Golf course. He had a successful bike ride and a good golf game but on his way home Shane’s life took an unexpected turn. He was seriously injured by a moving vehicle, just a couple blocks from our home. Suddenly, he was a boy with a broken pelvis, a broken femur and over 175 stitches that sewed up his little leg. Shane ended up in the St. Catharines General hospital for a solid 7 months then returned home to another hospital bed, in our dining room. He was in a body cast for another 2 months. He was scared, scarred and in traction. He spent his 11th Birthday eating cake while in the hospital. It was a devastating time for our little family of four. But we gathered together and my Brother dug deep and he showed us how determined he really was. Over the next couple years he learned how to walk again, ride his bike again, play golf , Hockey and Baseball again. Even though the doctors told him his injured leg may never grow back to be exactly even with his other leg… he kept moving forward, going to his physical therapy and his doctors visits at Sick Kids in Toronto. In hindsight, I believe this car accident, taught my brother at a very young age, that he was very strong and very capable of success. He stayed positive for the most part and always kept a good sense of humour for a pre teen kid struggling to regain his lost sports agility and strength. But, sure enough by the time he was a teenager he was strong and athletic again and not just mediocre but very skilled as a golfer, a baseball and hockey player… his love of sports would stay with him his whole life. Sports gave him an outlet for his competitive nature and a purposeful joy that continued into his adulthood. So, after much effort, our happy foursome was back on track, all of us stronger and closer for the experience. By the time High School ended in mid 80’s, Shane knew he was going to be a successful and accomplished business man. His first year at McMaster University was a definite learning curve on many levels, which then led him back to Brock University for the remainder of his Post Secondary Education, where he achieved an Honours Degree in Business Admin. It was then, in his early 20s, his next life stage was about to begin! He was re-introduced to his old secret crush from junior high school, Deanna Dimaurizio! I remember him coming home very excited for his luck that he and Deanna were attending the same school once again! It was then he started inviting me to go to 3 hour long Dance recitals every June. Being his only brother I was happy to be his wingman on his mission to win Miss D’s love. I wonder if it was a fated romance?! … because Deanna would remember solo dancing in the General hospital back in the 70’s for young patients convalescing and she had a particular memory of the boy named Shane who could only watch her dance from his hospital bed, after his terrible car accident?? What are the chances??! Over the next few years Dee and Shane graduated University and became engaged to be married by age 25. They made each other laugh and they made each other crazy… it was true love!! Then they made their two babies Brooklynne Dee and Zachary David. My brother was over the moon to be a father and in his mind having a girl and then a boy, things were working out just as he planned!! We Smiths are a family that loves our family traditions. Shane continued this love of tradition with his very own family of 4 , he had a clear vision of the life he wanted, he knew what he liked and was determined to keep liking what he liked and getting what he wanted. By plan, design and determination Shane made himself a success by being committed to his work life, his family life and his community. Shane and I were fortunate to grow up in a home where our mom and dad modeled actionable authentic concern and support for people who were less fortunate or temporarily down on their luck. As an adult, Shane was often helping people who found themselves short on some money or needed a job. He may have been a stern, serious man at times, but he was also a fair man in my eyes. He helped young families who needed help putting their children into dance classes or through a hockey season. He would anonymously get equipment or dance shoes to a family in need. If you were going to be alone on Christmas eve then he and Dee would invite you to their Christmas eve feast. So Shane and Dee along with my mom, Dad and I, we strived to make Christmas just as special for Brook and Zach every year. Even this past Christmas just weeks ago while he was declining health wise, he insisted on keeping his family traditions alive to the very end. So he managed “instruct” us from his hospital bed in his living room, still able to make sure we all made the party a success! We were fortunate as a family to share so many years of happiness together…no family is perfect but I would have to say ours has felt pretty damn good and secure. The determined David Shane “Smitty” Smith ended up successful like he always planned to be. He did it in a way that kept him rewarded in his work, but also home most evenings, so he could be with his family at bedtime. He attended most of the dance recitals and competitions, he helped coach and manage his son’s hockey and soccer teams, he helped make possible a new arena and community centre in the town he lived in. He was on many boards, including the new Niagara General hospital while it was being built. He helped his ‘wise guy’ friends raise masses of money for local charities. He was willing to share his sharp business insights free of charge. He was an all around, stand up kind of guy. No BS stuck on him. He would let you know what he thought and his intentions were always to get the best for everyone involved not just a few at the top. I would say he was a fair, tough ass, in a softening world. He was a good boss to his employees, concerned always that he kept his business running, so the families of his workers could achieve their best lives as well. He did not suffer fools easily. Yet could be foolishly fun when needed. He had good humour, he had a good heart, he had strength of character and great determination! The world is a better place because my brother lived. This cancer battle came too soon and feels very unfair. But life seems to have its own plan sometimes and we humans need to continue to love and support each other through this thing we call our life. So in honour of Shane, my brother, I would like to offer a suggestion: Go out into your world today and into your tomorrows and do a charitable thing for someone you don’t really know that well. And think of him while you do it. Maybe pay for the coffee of the next person in line at Tim’s , or offer to help a child take a lesson they are interested in or anonymously donate unused hockey equipment or dance shoes to someone in need. Invite a friend for Christmas dinner this year that could use the company. Go forth and live your best life, for the rest of your lifetime…
Live with Determination … Just like my big brother Shane did. Amen. Thank you, everyone, for your kind words, your strong hugs and your donations on Shane’s behalf. My family is grateful at this time of great loss.
Jeffrey R. Smith