Michael A. Smedile

Michael A. Smedile, 70, of Spencer, MA, is finally at rest after a long and valiant battle against a rare cancer.

Born October 6th, 1956, to Michael J. and Margaret (Callaghan), Mike grew up in Arlington, Mass., graduating from Arlington High School Class of ‘74. In his youth he helped his beloved aunts and uncles run their produce shop, Arlington Fruit Land, on Mass Ave. On business for the store as a teen Mike was caught in a bank heist by the Winter Hill Gang and had a gun held to his head, a trauma from which he developed lifelong anxiety.

Mike’s career was in engineering, working for such companies as Varian, where his met his future wife, Arleen (Devine), and the Marlboro Raytheon branch, where he loyally gave forty-one years of service. He was a good provider for his family and his children never wanted for anything.

Michael was a man of many passions. He was a talented self-taught watchmaker, being the go-to fix-it guy for decades amongst all who knew him. He loved music and enjoyed playing bass since his youth. Mike played in rock bands consistently over the years, playing many a show at The Rat and even opening for The Go-Go’s. Mike was also an avid reader of mystery and thriller novels, once meeting Robert B. Parker and bemusedly quipping that he was from “Spencer, with a C.”

Mike’s curly hair lives on in his daughter, Valerie, and her sons, Caleb and Jacob. The Smedile name lives on with his son, Christopher, and his daughter, Tabitha. His love of collecting, watches, and music lives on in his daughter, Alia, and her son, Arlo. Unfortunately none of his children inherited his obsessive interest in vacuuming or dusting.

Michael leaves behind his wife of forty-four years, Arleen (Devine) of Bedford and their beloved cat, Jack. He leaves behind his three children and their families: Valerie Smedile Rifkin and her husband Ian Rifkin of Auburn, Christopher Smedile of Leicester, and Alia Smedile and her partner Michael Poulin of South Hadley, and his four grandchildren: Caleb, Arlo, Tabitha, and Jacob. He also leaves behind four sisters: Sharon (Smedile) Graham and her husband Bryan of Gardner, Maria (Smedile) Miller and her husband Darren of Las Vegas, Silvana (LaTorre) Goss Drew of Lowell, and Angela (LaTorre) Ashbridge of Las Vegas.

Mike was predeceased by his father, Michael J. Smedile, a WWII POW; his mother, Margaret “Peg” (Callaghan) Batchelder; his dear aunts and uncles, Maggie & Charlie Blangio and Franny & Tony Smedile; and earlier this year by his stepmother Rose (LaTorre) Smedile.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers kindly send donations to a charity of your choice.

Assisting with arrangements is Kelly Cremation and Funeral Care in Worcester. To leave a message or share a memory please visit www.kellycremation.com