Frederic Alvin Smith, Jr

Frederic (Ric) Alvin Smith Jr., 79, a resident of Cape Coral, Florida since 2009 and formerly of Canastota, New York, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Cape Coral. He was born January 4, 1947, in Watertown, New York.

Ric married his wife and best friend, Margie, on April 13, 1968, and they shared 58 wonderful years together.

Ric proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 22 years, retiring in 1989 as a recruiter with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. During his military career, he completed several tours in Vietnam, where he served as an Air Force Aircrew Specialist.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, Ric worked at the NY Heart Center in Syracuse, New York, where he formed many lasting friendships.

Ric loved spending time with his family, and of the many roles he held in life, his favorite titles were Dad and Poppa. In his free time, Ric enjoyed collecting coins, building detailed wooden model ships, and working in his shop.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marjorie; four children: Frederic Smith III (Christina) of Fort Myers, Florida, and their children Parker, Dawson, and Hunter; Melissa Stowe (Todd) of Cape Coral, Florida, and their children Jayden, Emma, Noah, and Evin; Andrea Cowan (Tim) of Durhamville, New York, and their children Keeley and Jack; and Timothy Smith (Tracy) of Woodstock, Georgia, and their children Devin and Carson. He is also survived by his foster son, Sean Leach (Jessica) of Gainesville, Georgia, and their son Grayson.

Ric is further survived by his brother, William Roshia (Patti) of Joplin, Missouri, and his sister, Cheryl Szymanski of Knoxville, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederic Sr. and Yvonne Smith, and his stepfather, Kenneth Roshia.

A graveside service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Ric was a proud supporter of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Wreaths Across America.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the Cape Coral Fire and Police Departments, as well as the Cape Coral VA, for their support and care.