Patrick Fitzgerald Smith

Some of the greatest legacies are built not through extraordinary accomplishments, but through the ordinary moments that become extraordinary memories.

Patrick Fitzgerald Smith, 61, passed away on October 17, 2026, leaving behind a family who will forever carry his love, his lessons, and a lifetime of memories.

Pat was a simple man in the very best sense of the word. He never needed much to be happy, and what he had, he was always willing to share. He was the kind of man who would give someone the shirt off his back without a second thought, especially when it came to his family. He believed that the greatest things in life weren’t things at all, but the people you loved and the memories you made with them.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Westerville, Pat grew up alongside his brothers, Chris and Matt, in a home where family was everything. He often reminisced about a childhood spent outdoors with his brothers, cousins, and neighborhood friends, playing ball and finding adventure in the simplest of places. He described those years as something straight out of The Sandlot, and the friendships formed during those carefree days remained dear to him throughout his life.

Those childhood memories became more than stories. They became lessons he passed down to his own children, ensuring they understood where they came from, the people who came before them, and the importance of never forgetting their roots. Pat was especially proud of his Irish heritage and the hardworking example set by his father, Jack. He carried both with him throughout his life.

Pat briefly served his country in the United States Air Force, receiving an honorable discharge. He went on to build a life defined by hard work and dedication, spending many years employed at Ohio Wesleyan University and later with Westerville City Schools. He took pride in providing for his family, continuing to work hard until his health no longer allowed him to do so.

For more than fifteen years, Pat faced a long and difficult battle with polycystic kidney disease. He endured the slow progression of an illness that gradually took away so much of the independence and everyday life he had always known. In July 2026, after years of fighting, he finally received a kidney transplant, a moment that carried the hope of a better future. Heartbreakingly, complications with his health prevented the transplant from succeeding.

Even as his body grew tired, Pat continued to fight. He faced setback after setback with a determination that reflected the strength he had carried throughout his life. When the time came that there was little more medicine could offer, he returned home, surrounded by the love of the family he had spent his life putting first. After a long and courageous fight, he was finally able to rest, reunited in spirit with the parents and brothers he had loved and missed so dearly.

But Pat’s life was never defined by his illness. It was defined by the people he loved and the love he gave them.

He was a father who found a way to make each of his four children feel special in their own unique way. He showed his love through his presence, his encouragement, the lessons he shared, and the time he spent doing the things they loved. Whether he was coaching Little League baseball and softball, cheering from the sidelines, or gathering everyone for a game of Wiffle ball, Pat understood that the moments spent together were the ones that mattered.

A lifelong baseball fan and devoted New York Yankees supporter, Pat also loved Notre Dame football. His enthusiasm for sports was something he eagerly shared with his children, but the real joy was never simply about the game. It was about having his family together.

Becoming a grandfather gave Pat a whole new reason to embrace the big kid he had always been at heart. He delighted in spoiling his grandchildren with toys, treats, laughter, and, most importantly, his love and attention. Whether he was playing trains and cars with his grandsons, Graham and JJ, or patiently teaching them how to hit a baseball off the Little Tikes tee he had bought for them, Pat found joy in those simple moments together. Even as his health made it harder to keep up, his love for his grandchildren never wavered.

In the final months of his life, Pat was blessed with the opportunity to meet his first granddaughter, Sloane, whom he affectionately nicknamed “Little Irish.” Proud of his family’s Irish roots, Pat had helped inspire her name, which carries the meaning of warrior. It was a beautiful connection between a grandfather and granddaughter, and one his family will forever treasure.

Throughout his life, Pat reminded his children that “blood is thicker than water.” To him, those weren’t simply words. They were a way of living. Family came first. You showed up for one another, you stood together through life’s hardships, and you never forgot the people who loved you.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, John “Jack” Smith and Patricia “Patty” Smith; his brothers, Christopher “Chris” Smith and Matthew “Matt” Smith; and his niece, Veronica Smith.

He is survived by his four children, Michael (Kailee) Smith, Nicole (John) Smith, John (Laura) Smith, and Kathryn “Katee” Smith; his three grandchildren, Graham Patrick Smith, John Lee Grimm IV, and Sloane Veronica Grimm; his niece, Olivia (Smith) Shannon; and his nephews, Nate Smith and Jacob Smith.

Pat’s legacy will not be measured by the things he owned or the years he worked, but by the family he loved, the values he instilled, and the countless ordinary moments he made unforgettable.

It will live on in backyard baseball games, in stories told around the dinner table, in the excitement of a Yankees game, and in the children and grandchildren who will grow up knowing exactly where they came from.

And perhaps that is the greatest gift Pat leaves behind: a family that knows the importance of being a family.

The games may come to an end, but the love, the lessons, and the memories will always be ours to carry.