Phillip Alan Smith, 84, of West Haven, formerly of North Branford and East Haven, died on July 16.  He was the husband of Marie Kretz Smith. Phillip was born on Feb. 26, 1928, son of Nelson and Emeline Grosvenor Smith. He graduated from East Haven High School in 1946 and married his first wife, Virginia Brockett Smith, in 1948. He also served his country in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Phillip was a talented builder. With the help of his brother, Bud Smith, he designed and built his own beautiful home in North Branford, where he and Virginia raised their children, Stuart and Karen. He and Bud also built a home for Bud and his wife Elsie in Hamden and a cottage for Bud and Elsie in Lamphier's Grove, Branford.

Phil was a waterproofing and painting estimator employed by D.I. Chapman of New Haven, Yale University, and Premier Roofing of West Haven.

Phil was an avid skier and introduced his daughter Karen to many sports. Even after her disabling diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, he followed her closely in her adaptive sports endeavors. Most recently, despite his own medical problems, he was very proud of his daughter Karen's accomplishment of becoming the starting goaltender on the USA National Women's Sled Hockey Team.

Besides his second wife, Marie Kretz Smith, he is survived by his son, Stuart A. Smith and his wife Joan of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; his daughter, Karen S. Smith of East Haven; four grandchildren, Cheryl Smith Duay, Scott Smith, Stacy Smith O'Rourke, and Steven Smith; and six great-grandchildren, Ellen Virginia Smith, Caleb Smith, Noah Smith, Elias Duay, Joaquin Duay, and Lucas O'Rourke, who was born shortly after Phillip's death. He was predeceased by his brothers, Dennison Smith and Nelson "Bud" Smith.

Phil's children are having a memorial celebration of his life on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m., at the Old Stone Congregational Church, 251 Main St., East Haven. All friends and family are welcome.

Phil would be happy to have donations made to Sled Hockey America, 908 Baker Dr., Norristown, PA. 19403. (Be sure to mark in memo section of check: “USA Women's Sled Hockey Team,” and the donations will be earmarked accordingly for that program.)