George A. Smith Jr., 65

Northborough - George A. Smith Jr., 65, died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 in UMass Memorial University Campus following a long illness.

He leaves his loving and devoted wife, Marion "Penny" (Peloquin) Smith; his siblings, Robert Smith, Richard Smith, William Smith, Paul Smith, Ann Mirow, Kathleen Dyson and Nancy Keenan; his aunts, Mary Lennon and Patricia Perron; and nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in Worcester, the son of George and Catherine (Lennon) Smith Sr., he had lived in Northborough for the past 26 years. He graduated from the former Saint Peter's High School in Worcester and the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, stationed in France.

He worked as the Director of Public Health in Lexington, Framingham and finally Auburn before retiring. Prior to working as Director of Public Health for the three communities, he worked as the Health Inspector in Framingham.

He was awarded the Robert C. Perriello Merit Award from the National Environmental Health Association for his work in the public health field. In 1982, he organized the first Household Environmental Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Lexington, which is now done nationwide. He was an avid photographer, collector of model cars and a longtime member of Saint Rose of Lima Church.

A funeral mass was held Dec. 12 from the Saint Rose of Lima Church, with burial at Howard Street Cemetery. Hays Funeral Home of Northborough directed arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Saint Rose of Lima Church, 244 West Main St., Northborough, MA 01532.