John Joseph “JJ, Smitty” Smith, 80, of Whitman, MA.

Passed away on April 14, 2026, at home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was the dear husband of Judith A. Smith (D’Angelo) of 48 years.

Born in South Kingstown RI on November 10, 1945, and raised in Narragansett, the second son of the late Francis Edwin Smith and Mary Agnes (MacNulty) Smith.

Smitty enlisted in the Army at the age of 19 and served active duty for 3 years being deployed to Vietnam in 1966. This was the beginning of his nearly 24-year tenure of service to his country with 21 years split between the USMC Reserves and the U.S. Army Reserves. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1997 the same year the South Weymouth Naval air base closed where he worked for 12 years. Prior to that he worked as a mechanic, he then went on to a career with the VA hospital as an Environmental Protection Specialist before officially retiring in 2011. He took his retirement very seriously and never worked another day and fully focused on his passion for fishing. Fresh water fishing was his second love; he would spend hours on the water on his boat JJ’s Joy or fishing from the shore volunteering his time at youth tournaments or just casting with his friends. His basement fishing room is one he was immensely proud of.

He was a friend of Bill W. for 56 years and valued all the friendships he made there.

Besides his wife Judy he leaves his daughter Courtney M. Smith and was about to become a grandfather for the first time to a baby girl.

He is also survived by his sister Catherine “Cate” Elshant of Middletown RI, his mother-in-law Lorraine D’Angelo, and a large extended family.

He was predeceased by his brothers Francis Smith & Paul Smith and his sister Ann Rathbun, along with his niece Amy Elshant and nephew Paul Elshant.

Friends and family are welcomed to pay their respects on Tuesday April 21,2026 at Blanchard Funeral Chapel 666 Plymouth St Whitman MA 02382 from 4:00PM – 7:00PM.

A service at the funeral home will be held Wednesday April 22,2026 at 11:00AM.

Burial will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to South Shore Veterans Assistance Inc PO Box 564 Whitman MA 02382 or Croi Health 120 Longwater Dr Norwell MA 02061