Thurston Huntting Smith

Thurston Huntting Smith Jr., known as "Hunt," died peacefully at home on Sunday, May 31, 2026, in the presence of his loved ones. Hunt was born on September 20, 1944, in Mineola, NY, to Thurston H. Smith Sr. and Ruth Mooney Smith.
He grew up in Centre Island, NY, attending The Green Vale School (where he learned to despise cream cheese balls), and graduating from The Gow School in 1963.
Hunt attended both Findley College and Wayne State University, but finally decided against college altogether when - as he would often recall - his advanced sculpture class gave a written final exam!
Hunt lived his life on his own terms. Following three tremendously long months' employment at the Xerox corporation, he went into business for himself for the rest of his life.
He embarked upon splendid adventures in the métiers of studio photography, sales and restoration of fine antiques (counting Andy Warhol among his customers), building exquisite furniture of his own design (including pieces featured in the film version of Stephen King's Pet Sematary), and later devoting himself more deeply to painting, music, and violin making.
Hunt loved sailing above all else, and spent many hours on the water in Maine, New York, and elsewhere. He said that he had salt water running through his veins, and had learned to sail before he could ride a bicycle.
He was a noted maritime artist and a gifted self-taught musician on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, flute, and banjo. He mentored countless folks who wanted to learn these skills.
Throughout the years he lived in the Hudson River Valley of New York, West Palm Beach, FL; Brasstown, NC; Nelson, NH (where he and his wife Allison built their own house); and in Down East and central Maine. In his final months, he returned home to his beloved community in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire.
Hunt met the love of his life, Allison Aldrich, when he was 62. They married ten months later on his birthday, and had nineteen beautiful years together. In 2015 he adopted Allison's daughter, Maggie.
Hunt and Allison loved to travel, and had the opportunity to sail in Greece, take the California Zephyr train to the Pacific Coast, and to visit Orkney and Shetland.
He played for contra dances, concerts, and other programs, and loved jamming with friends. He and Allison helped found the Maine Highlands Council for the Arts, playing with the band Some Reel People during their years in that region of central Maine.
One of the highlights of his life was the Pie Jam, which he and Allison started during their years in Nelson. The young folks and friends who attended every week for five years became "chosen family," remaining very dear to him to the end of his life. (Though the group had originally adopted the motto "Live Free or Pie" in honor of the Granite State, they soon decided that one should not have to choose between those options and changed it to "Live Free and Pie.") Hunt was a multi-faceted, warm, wise, brilliant, quirky man who will be missed by so many.
He leaves his wife, Allison Aldrich Smith; his daughter, Maggie Aldrich Smith; his stepdaughter, Dana Cobb; his sister, Deborah Smith; nieces, Cornelia Read Riegert and Freya Read; nephew, Race Dougherty; sons, Thurston and Townsend Smith; several grandchildren, and many beloved friends. He was predeceased by his parents; and sister, Julie Smith Hoyt.
There will be a celebration of life on Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. at the Nelson Town Hall, Nelson, NH. After a time of sharing and celebrating this remarkable man there will be music and a Pie and Potluck (pie optional).
Donations in his memory may be made to the ALS Association, Monadnock Folklore Society, or Pinewoods Music and Dance Camp.