Richard T. Smialkowski

Richard T. Smialkowski, passed away on February 23, 2018. He was born March 21, 1931 to Polish immigrants, Ludwik and Marcela in Newark, NJ, the youngest of 4 children. Richard was raised and educated in Newark before the family moved to Maplewood, NJ. He served in the US Army and served in Europe during the Korean Conflict and was discharged in 1954. Upon returning home, he met and married the love of his life, Gloria in 1956 and settled in Maplewood. A cabinet maker by trade, he was employed by Western Electric, Kearny, NJ and retired as a landscaper of Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ in 1996. Rich, or Smiley, as he was well known, was also a co-owner with his brothers, of Smiley's Tavern in Newark from 1958-1968. Smiley moved to Toms River after the death of Gloria in 2011. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Ted and Henry, and his sister, Irene. He is survived by his sons, Stephen and Robert, their wives, Victoria and Shannon and his 5 grandchildren, Sara, Molly, Hailey, Jenna and Jake. In lieu of flowers, since all of his family and friends knew of his love of gardening, Smiley's family requests that you purchase some flowers or shrubs and plant them in his honor around your home.