Mr. Norman Thomas (Skippy) Smith, 81, of Port Charlotte, Florida, formerly of West Hartford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home in Port Charlotte.

Norman was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 19, 1929, the son of the late Charles and Vera (nee – Patterson) Smith. Skip survived the 1944 Circus fire in Hartford, and later served in the U.S. Navy at the close of World War II. After he graduated from the University of Hartford Ward College of Technology, he resided in West Hartford, Connecticut, where he owned and operated Tip Top Television Inc. Sales and Service on Park Road for 40 years before retiring and spending seven years traveling around and enjoying our beautiful country, Mexico and Canada in his Winnebago Chieftain before becoming a full time resident of Port Charlotte.

Norman was a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, and previously enjoyed being a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jaycees and Rotary of West Hartford. He also served as East Coast Vice President of N.E.S.D.A., and was one of the original founders of Telsa of Hartford. He was always proud of his Connecticut Television License No.10.

Skip is survived by his wife of 60 years, Eleanor Mary (nee – Griffin) Smith, and his children, Marilee & Allan Dabkowski of CT, Maggie & Edward Furstein of Port Charlotte, and Peter Ernest Smith of CT; grandchildren, Brian & Stacy Dabkowski of Utah, Paul Dabkowski of CT, Lauren Dabkowski of Vermont, Danielle & James Cullen of LI, NY, Kelly Trafton, Sandra Smith and Ashley & Amy Furstein, all of CT; 3 great grandchildren; several cousins in Texas, many wonderful nieces and nephews in CT, and his Godson Toby O’Brien in NYC, NY. Skip was preceded in death by a son, Norman T. Smith, Jr., a brother, Charles Edward Smith, a sister, Audra Smith, and his niece and godchild Linda Hansen.