Peter A. Smist

83, of Rhode Island, passed away on March 11, 2026.

Peter, an only child, was born on September 12, 1942, in Providence, RI, to Stella (Baranowski) Smist and Thaddeaus Smist. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Providence and proudly joined the United States Navy in June 1960 as an E5 Electronic Technician. He served with honor until his discharge in August 1964 and continued his dedication to his country with an additional two years in the Naval Reserve.

Peter went on to provide the United States Government with 39 years of federal service. He began his career at the Naval Underwater Systems Center in Newport, RI, where he spent 10 years as a Senior Underwater Ship Technician. He later continued his work in defense service at Raytheon in Portsmouth, RI, where he served as a Quality Assurance Specialist. His career there spanned decades until his retirement in October 2002.

Beyond his professional achievements, Peter was known for his deep passion for music of all genres. He spent countless hours collecting and preserving media of every kind—reel-to-reel tapes, vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, and DVDs. He also enjoyed tinkering with electronics, always curious about how things worked and eager to keep them running.

Peter is survived by his daughter, Heather Martins of Swansea, MA, and her husband, Richard Martins; his three grandchildren—Michael, Joshua, and Christopher; and two great-grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his dedication, his love of music, and the time he spent with those who knew and loved him.

His Funeral will be held on Monday, March 16th at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. in the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston. Burial with Military Honors will take place in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.

VISITING HOURS will be Sunday, March 15th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. (stjude.org/memorial)