Sitting Cayuga County Legislator Bernard Smith, 67, died Saturday at University Hospital in Syracuse. Smith suffered from liver failure, said Cayuga County Legislature Chairman George Fearon.
"He was extremely dedicated to being a legislator and very proud of it," Fearon said.
A Port Byron resident, Smith was elected to represent District 3 (Montezuma, Mentz and Throop) in November 2005. Most recently, he sat on the Judicial and Public Safety, Planning and Economic Development and Public Works committees, the latter of which he was vice chair.
Smith, a native of Montezuma, retired in 2001 after working for 31 years with the state Department of Corrections. He was a union leader for 29 years and was also one of the first canine handlers in the state.
Smith served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He also owned and operated the Old Erie Antique Shop in Port Byron.
He was married to his wife, Sharon, for 45 years. The two had four children.
Smith took over the seat vacated by former Legislature Chairman Herb Marshall, who retired after 27 years on the Legislature.
"I'm prepared to work with the entire Legislature and try to solve some of the problems that exist in the county," Smith said after the results came in on election night in 2005.
He previously defeated Peter Marshall, the former chairman's son, for the Republican slot on the ballot by a margin of 27 votes. Smith was declared the official winner a week after the actual primary, following a recanvassing of voting machines and counting of absentee ballots.
On a September 2005 evening, after learning that he had received the greatest number of votes in the primary, Smith's yell was deafening. Later, after having a few minutes to compose himself, Smith expressed his joy -- and relief -- from his location at the Montezuma VFW.
"I'm with my whole family," said Smith, who admitted that he hadn't slept the previous night. "And I'm really ecstatic."
Fearon said that he knew that Smith had had health problems for years. In February 2006, he underwent triple bypass surgery after a heart catheterization revealed all of the arteries to his heart were blocked.
He was on dialysis for about eight years, Fearon said, noting his admiration for Smith, who led an active campaign while undergoing dialysis three times a week.
"He was a very courageous man," Fearon said.
On July 10 of this year -- Smith's 67th birthday -- there were a couple of committee meetings, and legislators sang "Happy Birthday" to him, Fearon recalled.
"To me, I treasure that we did that," Fearon said.
Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Audioun Funeral Home, 218 Main St., Port Byron. Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with interment at Pine Hill Cemetery in Throop.
The last time a sitting Cayuga County legislator died was in 2001, when 68-year-old Edward H. Bowen, R-Springport, passed away at his home after an extended illness.
A Port Byron resident, Smith was elected to represent District 3 (Montezuma, Mentz and Throop) in November 2005. Most recently, he sat on the Judicial and Public Safety, Planning and Economic Development and Public Works committees, the latter of which he was vice chair.
Smith, a native of Montezuma, retired in 2001 after working for 31 years with the state Department of Corrections. He was a union leader for 29 years and was also one of the first canine handlers in the state.
Smith served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He also owned and operated the Old Erie Antique Shop in Port Byron.
He was married to his wife, Sharon, for 45 years. The two had four children.
Smith took over the seat vacated by former Legislature Chairman Herb Marshall, who retired after 27 years on the Legislature.
"I'm prepared to work with the entire Legislature and try to solve some of the problems that exist in the county," Smith said after the results came in on election night in 2005.
He previously defeated Peter Marshall, the former chairman's son, for the Republican slot on the ballot by a margin of 27 votes. Smith was declared the official winner a week after the actual primary, following a recanvassing of voting machines and counting of absentee ballots.
On a September 2005 evening, after learning that he had received the greatest number of votes in the primary, Smith's yell was deafening. Later, after having a few minutes to compose himself, Smith expressed his joy -- and relief -- from his location at the Montezuma VFW.
"I'm with my whole family," said Smith, who admitted that he hadn't slept the previous night. "And I'm really ecstatic."
Fearon said that he knew that Smith had had health problems for years. In February 2006, he underwent triple bypass surgery after a heart catheterization revealed all of the arteries to his heart were blocked.
He was on dialysis for about eight years, Fearon said, noting his admiration for Smith, who led an active campaign while undergoing dialysis three times a week.
"He was a very courageous man," Fearon said.
On July 10 of this year -- Smith's 67th birthday -- there were a couple of committee meetings, and legislators sang "Happy Birthday" to him, Fearon recalled.
"To me, I treasure that we did that," Fearon said.
Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Audioun Funeral Home, 218 Main St., Port Byron. Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with interment at Pine Hill Cemetery in Throop.
The last time a sitting Cayuga County legislator died was in 2001, when 68-year-old Edward H. Bowen, R-Springport, passed away at his home after an extended illness.
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