Danvers - James Edward Smerczynski, age 90, passed away peacefully at the Kaplan House after a five-month intense battle with multiple, chronic conditions, each of which surfaced 5 years ago. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts and was raised on Cross Street, part of the Polish section of the Witch City.

His father was disabled with acute multiple sclerosis which presented quite the challenge for the family. As a youngster "Smuz" shot up to 6'4'' and demonstrated great athletic skill. With the help of many in the community, notably his Collins Cove park instructor, future state senate President Kevin Harrington, Smuz was able to attend St. Mary's High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, to which he hitch-hiked every day. At St. Mary's he starred in football and basketball leading to his induction into the St. Mary's Athletic Hall of Fame.

He graduated at age 17 and went to William & Mary on a football scholarship with the gratuitous help of Lynn School Department Athletic Director Elmo Benedetto. Remarkably as a 17-year-old he joined a team of veterans returning from enlistments all in their early 20s. In the annual spring game against the alumni rostering many NFL players and an NFL Hall of Famer he led the team to the only victory in that event. He ultimately graduated from Merrimack College in electrical engineering and married Barbara Sifaneck also from the Collins Cove Polish community and an accomplished athlete at Salem High School. From there and with help of a scholarship from the Kosciusko Foundation for Excellence in Education he was accepted and graduated from the Yale Graduate School of Engineering, gaining a master's degree in electrical engineering. It was at Yale that the couple had the first of their four children.

Smuz then started a career as a mathematician at Raytheon working on the famous Hawk, Patriot and J-Lens projects earning many awards and authoring numerous patents. He was retained at the company into his 70s given his institutional knowledge of the company's radar systems, advanced mastery of the high levels of math incorporated into missile defense systems and ability to mentor young engineers.

In contrast to his academic profile, he played in competitive leagues for fast pitch softball, basketball and football into his early 40s. He transitioned to coaching his four children in all sports and serving as a league official. This experience covered Peabody West Little League, Peabody Babe Ruth, Peabody Senior Babe Ruth, Topsfield Babe Ruth, Northshore Baseball League, CYO Girl's Basketball, Peabody Women's Softball and Peabody Midget Football. He coached many championships in each of those organizations. The Babe Ruth involvement led to him becoming one of the three State Babe Ruth Commissioners, a post he held for 40 years. For that work he was inducted in both the Massachusetts and New England Babe Ruth Halls of Fame.

Of importance, he and his wife Barbara shared the commonality of being brought up in a pressure-saturated household, Smuz with his acutely compromised father and Barbara by the passing of her dad when she was six. Both were conditioned into the appreciation for community help and the importance of being a student-athlete. That value set characterized their lives. Both endeavored to "give back," especially to the community's youth. Smuz not only coached for a half-century and in a legendary, larger-than-life fashion but he was the volunteer Chairman of the Peabody Park Commission for 40 years and had an "open door" training session at his home for any parent or student needing help to prepare college or financial aid applications. When the Peabody Little Leagues were graduating more players than could be drafted into Babe Ruth, Smuz organized the Lou Gehrig League so all could play. He and Barbara proudly exposed their four children to these values who all registered athletic success accumulating 10 high school captaincies, participating in one or two college sports and all becoming volunteer coaches and administrators. Smuz cherished his friendships with many through athletics and particularly Jon Blodgett and Mark Matanes who each worked tirelessly with the same resolve as his. Lastly, great praise and appreciation are needed to be cited for the phenomenal care Smuz received from Dr. Paul Cusisk, Boston Private Nursing, Kaplan House, MGH, Salem Hospital and Spaulding Rehab. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in his name made to St. Mary's High School,35 Tremont Street, Lynn, Massachusetts 01902; it can be done online and specify "athletics" as the preferred fund: www.stmaryslynn.com/give/give-online

Smuz is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael T. and Christine O. Smerczynski of Topsfield and Thomas B. and Karin Smerczynski of Purcellville, VA, his two daughters and son-in-law, Diane and Kevin Buckley of Peabody and Kristen B. Harmony and fiancé Adam Buccieri of Las Vegas, NV, his 9 beloved grandchildren, Patrick James Smerczynski and wife Maria, Bryanna Ashley Sekas and husband Michael James Sekas Tristina Buckley, Sean Paul Smerczynski, Casey Margaret Smerczynski and fiancé Austin Holley, Savannah James, Carissa and Alexandra, and Mia Mastrangelo, his companion, Priscilla Lord of Middleton, three great grandchildren, Isabella Mary Sekas, Sophia Lillian Sekas, and Harrison Davis Smerczynski, and his sister Jane Harding Johnson of Salem, her children Katie and Thomas

His Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Friday August 7, 2026 at 11:30 AM at St. Mary's Annunciation Church, Conant St, Danvers to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Please go directly to Church. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. Peabody. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Lake St, Peabody. . In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in his name made to St. Mary's High School,35 Tremont Street, Lynn, Massachusetts 01902; it can be done online and specify "athletics" as the preferred fund: www.stmaryslynn.com/give/give-online. For directions and on-line obituary visit www.ccbfuneral.com