Michael Smith passed away on Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Orlando FL. He was born on December 6, 1936, in Indianapolis IN, to the late Geraldine and Nat Smith. Mike was a preemie who was born weighing less than 4 lbs. In spite of starting life so tiny, his big personality quickly made itself known. From his childhood, through his years at Indiana University and into adulthood, Mike was a gregarious person who loved to socialize and tell a joke. In 1958, he married the love of his life, Ruth Fischel, with whom he enjoyed a happy marriage for 63 years.
Mike spent his career as a traveling salesman in the men's wear industry. His gift for gab served him well. He turned every prospect into a customer and every customer into a friend. Mike traveled the highways and byways of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky to supply hundreds of large and small men's clothing stores with the fashions of the times. When his company went out of business late in his career, he turned to a series of odd jobs... everything from being a Yellow Shirt at the Indy 500 to selling tickets in the Indianapolis Symphony box office. He was a people person and loved to help others. In 2016, he and Ruth traded in their snow boots for sandals when they moved with their daughter Sandy and her husband Steve to Orlando. Even after moving to Florida, every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day Mike would watch the Indy 500 on TV. Watching the 500 was a tradition he enjoyed his entire life.
Mike was a person who loved his family, loved his friends, loved to cook, loved to fish, loved to travel, and loved a good joke. He will be deeply missed by his wife Ruth Smith, daughter Sandy Herman and her husband Steve Herman, son Jeff Smith, granddaughters Rachel Rosenbaum, Abigail Herman and Kristen Smith, great-granddaughter Rebecca Rosenblum and his long-time friends.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 21, at 2:00 pm, at the Ohev Shalom Cemetery in Orlando with Rabbi Geoffrey Spector officiating.
Donations in memory of Mike may be made to Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland FL,
Arrangements entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel. 933 Lee Road - Suite 101, Orlando 32810. 407.599.1180 www.bethshalommemorialchapel.com
