JAMES A. SMATH

July 18, 1928 - October 27, 2021

MEMORIAL DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO: DEPARTMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES DPD PO BOX 2539 OAK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07438 MEMORIAL MASS: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021 11AM ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH 5635 BERKSHIRE VALLEY ROAD OAK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07438 James A. Smath, 93 years of age, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, passed away on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. He was born on July 18, 1928 in Rahway, New Jersey to the late Helen (nee Dolechek )and Godfrey Smath. Jim graduated from Rahway High School. Before attending college, Jim was very interested in foreign service, and was a member of the US Army Medical Corp from 1950 to 1952 during the Korean War. He then attended NYU and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Jim then served with the American Red Cross in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967 and USAID in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He was awarded the Medal for Civilian Service in Vietnam in 1967 and 1969 from the United States and the Social Welfare Medal from Vietnam for his distinguished service. Upon returning from the war, Jim was a Rahway Jaycee in 1970 and was named Citizen of the Year. He later wrote for various newspapers in New Jersey and Maine and also worked for the Westfield Post Office until his retirement in 1982. Jim married Julia “Roberta” Arabia Bacigalupo in 1982 and resided in Rahway, New Jersey until 2003 where they moved to a log cabin in the Lake Swannanoa Section of Oak Ridge, New Jersey. In 2016, Roberta and Jim moved to the Jefferson Chase Senior Residence in Oak Ridge where they have since resided until his passing. Jim was a member of two choirs, St. Mark’s Church in Rahway, New Jersey and St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. He was predeceased by his loving parents Helen and Godfrey Smath, and his dear brothers John, Joseph, and Jerome Smath. Jim is survived by his beloved wife Roberta, his dear step children: Roberta Kleckner, Louise Perez, Anthony Bacigalupo III, and John Bacigalupo; his nine cherished grandchildren and his three adored great grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will take place on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 11am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 5635 Berkshire Valley Road, Oak Ridge, New Jersey 07438. Memorial donations may be made to: Department for Persons with Disabilities of the Diocese of Paterson, DPD, PO Box 2539, Oak Ridge, New Jersey 07438. Log onto www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com tribute wall to personally post your condolences, memories, photos or videos, as well as driving directions to the church.