Ernest M. "Dutchy" Smith was born on October 25, 1920 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts as the son of Freda Ernst and Justin Smith. He was a proud member of the Lynn Classical High School Class of 1940. Dutchy was drafted into the Army on October 16, 1942 in Boston, MA, and rose from a draft inductee to Staff Sergeant in the 83rd Infantry Division, 329th Regiment, H Company. He landed in Normandy in 1944 and served for 20 months in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Luxembourg and Czechoslovakia, including in the Battle of the Bulge.

Dutchy graduated from Bentley School of Accounting and Finance in 1949, and worked as comptroller at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, and director of accounting at Boston Hospital for Women and Faulkner Hospital.He had many interests and hobbies, including politics, softball, travelling, blackjack and the Patriots. He co-chaired the 1952 Adlai Stevenson for President campaign in Lynn, and was a lifetime member of the Ward 7 Lynn Democratic City Committee. During his retirement he was the proprietor of The Corinthian Club in downtown Lynn.

Ernest M. "Dutchy" Smith Sr., 92, of Lynn, passed away on August 8, 2013. He is predeceased by his loving wife Helen, who died in April. They shared 71 years of marriage. He is survived by his three children, Ernest M. Smith Jr. of Boston, James E. Smith and his wife Abbe Young Smith of Swampscott and Deborah Smith Walsh and her husband John Coleman Walsh of Lynn; and was predeceased by his son, Steven B. Smith.