Darryl “Michael” Smith

Darryl “Michael” “Mickey” Smith, 80, of Kenosha, Wi passed away peacefully on Monday April 27, 2020 with his daughter and son in law by his side. He was born on July 4, 1939 to Stanley and Ursula Smith (DiRosa/ Manderano) in Cortland, NY. He lived and attended school in Cortland and graduated from Cortland High School in 1957.

In his early adult years he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Tx as well as attended UTEP.  Mickey married and had two daughters, Julie ( Benham) of Oregon and Amy (Visintainer) of Kenosha, Wi. He worked at AT&T which moved him around a bit coast to coast as well as a lot of traveling for work. His love was the west coast where he lived in California and later in Oregon. He took an early retirement around age 50 and went in the direction of a family counseling for a while and later to teach some computer classes at a college level. 

He had a love of animals , having many dogs and cats over the years, most recently Alley Girl who he loved dearly and took from his daughter Julie. Mickey was a brilliant man who loved to help people especially emotionally and would always try to solve people’s problems. Mickey’s whole life he kept up to date on what was going on in technology, computers, T.V.’s etc., constantly tinkering and once even building a computer from scratch. 

In about 2008 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease while living in Oregon. After a few years it became too much for him to live on his own so he came to Wisconsin to live where his daughter could help with his tasks and soon after was moved into Parkside Manor Memory care where he lived for 7 1/2 years. “Michael” was well known in the facility with his big smile and the knack of making staff and other residents laugh. Parkside was his home and staff took great care of him, (thank you Eli and Emily for your excellent care and assistance). He could definitely brighten your day. The staff will greatly miss him as well as all his family and friends.

Mickey leaves behind his two daughters, son in law Tom Visintainer of Kenosha, sisters, Teresa (DiRosa) Hamilton of Delaware and Jamie DiRosa of Cortland, NY, a brother Tommy Smith of Massachusetts, as well as grandchildren, Robert Benham, Andrew Benham, and Daniel Benham all of Oregon and Codi Carr and Ashley Thorpe both of Kenosha Wi. and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his Mother, Father and step father, James “Red” DiRosa, and brother in law Ken Hamilton.