R.I.P. Beaver Smith

J

jerseyshorejohnny

Well-known member
Sad day for SJU alumni and SJU basketball. Beaver Smith (‘72-‘76) passed away this morning. His service will be held on Thursday night at 7:00pm at the Freedom Chapel, 641 Broadway (Rte. 110) Amityville, NY.
 
Very sorry to hear this. Beaver was a very good player and even better person. I always enjoyed talking to him when he was working at St. Johns.

I know this is a very hard time for his wife since they had just lost their daughter a little over a year ago, My condolences to his family. Will definitely try to attend his service.
 
Wow was just talking about him with my Dad. Think his name came up couple weeks ago on here regards to best dunkers. Family friend played on his ST John's teams. Met him after ST John's when he played in a 3 on 3 tournament with Dad's friend and my Dad. Really nice guy who could jump! RIP
 
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Difficult to believe it was 45 years ago, but still remember the many articles in NEWSDAY about Beaver (South Side H.S.) and Frankie Alagia (St. Agnes).

Arguably, this was the Golden Age of Long Island high school basketball.

When Coach Carnesecca was able to sign both guys it was like winning the lottery.

I trust that Chris, his staff and the entire team (as well as all senior athletic department leadership) will be attending the service on Thursday.

A Top 50 player in the history of St. John's basketball.
 
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Wow , what a team , how could I forget we took Indiana{ un defeated for the season ) to the last seconds at the garden which was actually rocking and moving. Smith , Alagia , Johnson, Williams and Farmer -the tallest Johnson at 6'7, a true one and done team in rebounding.
 
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[quote="frank" post=276445]Wow , what a team , how could I forget we took Indiana{ un defeated for the season ) to the last seconds at the garden which was actually rocking and moving. Smith , Alagia , Johnson, Williams and Farmer -the tallest Johnson at 6'7, a true one and done team.[/quote]
"A true one and done team." Are you referring to St. John's or to Indiana, which went undefeated that year and took home the national championship? :huh:
 
R.I.P. Beaver Smith, you will always be one of my all time favorite Redmen.
 
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Deepest apologies for my sarcastic post above. I obviously wasn't using my head, and I didn't mean to take away from the sadness we all feel over Beaver's passing and the wonderful memories those of us who were lucky enough to have seen him play cherish. Truly a sad day.
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=276434]So sad, one of my favorite SJU players & this is preview of a game I was fortunate to have attended. That night losing was ok, since we really challenged perhaps one of the best, well coached teams in history.

[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/29/archives/st-johns-patiently-awaits-indiana.html[/URL][/URL][/quote]

Also attended this game, my favorite game of all time that the team lost. The atmosphere at MSG was electric. I had seen some SJU games before this but this is the game that cemented me as a fan. RIP Beaver Smith.
 
[quote="IDRAFT" post=276454][quote="Paultzman" post=276434]So sad, one of my favorite SJU players & this is preview of a game I was fortunate to have attended. That night losing was ok, since we really challenged perhaps one of the best, well coached teams in history.

[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/29/archives/st-johns-patiently-awaits-indiana.html[/URL][/URL][/quote]

Also attended this game, my favorite game of all time that the team lost. The atmosphere at MSG was electric. I had seen some SJU games before this but this is the game that cemented me as a fan. RIP Beaver Smith.[/quote]

Was there as well. Easily one of my all-time favorite games even though we didn't come out on top.
 
I was already well on my way to becoming a Redmen fan when I attended the Indiana game. Smith was an amazing leaper at 6'2", and one of the enduring memories is Smith, Cecil Rellford, and Ed Searcy (I believe it was those three) all going up to block a shot at Alumni Hall in an earlier game, perhaps that season. There was an impenetrable wall of arms flailing for the ball and someone blocked it.

I met his brother at Southside about 15 years ago when one of my kids was playing there. His brother (twin possibly?) was the custodian there, and just about the nicest guy you could imagine. His brother played college ball also, but not at the same level.

Sad, sad day. For many of us, Bill "Beaver" Smith was one of our boys of winter, and forever young and soaring in my mind.
 
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[quote="IDRAFT" post=276454][quote="Paultzman" post=276434]So sad, one of my favorite SJU players & this is preview of a game I was fortunate to have attended. That night losing was ok, since we really challenged perhaps one of the best, well coached teams in history.

[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/29/archives/st-johns-patiently-awaits-indiana.html[/URL][/URL][/quote]

Also attended this game, my favorite game of all time that the team lost. The atmosphere at MSG was electric. I had seen some SJU games before this but this is the game that cemented me as a fan. RIP Beaver Smith.[/quote]

I was there as well. Sat up in Blue Heaven in the next to the last row. I remember my father thought my friends and I were nuts for going to the Garden since, I believe, IU smoked Manhattan by 40 the night before.
 
Rest in Peace Beaver Smith; my wife's uncle-in-law was a long time public school custodian in Rockville Center and knew Beaver well. Always kidded me about him as he knew my love of SJU basketball and all things SJU.

Prayers for the repose of his soul and for family and friends left behind.
 
My Dad used to take my buddy and I to St. John's games starting with the days of the McIntyre Brothers, Sonny Dove & Jerry Houston. We had season tickets for several years beginning with the John Warren & Joe Depre led teams and I believe the last year we had season tickets was the year Beaver Smith & Frank Alagia were seniors,Didn't go to the Indiana game in MSG, but saw Beaver many times at Alumni Hall and always enjoyed his above the rim play at 6'4".
RIP Beaver.
 
Can someone confirm if he had a twin brother , or if his brother played at Siena. Working off old information and one conversation.

I believe Smith was listed at 6'4 but was actually 6'2. I also vaguely remember that Searcy would wear 7 pairs of socks, for what benefit I don't know.

Also, did Smith ever win the award as the best college player in the Metro area. Again, a vague recollection.
 
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Great Redman, he always had to defend the opponent's best forward - Phil Sellers - Rutgers, Adrian Dantley - ND, Ernie Grunfeld - Tenn. Scott May, /Tom Abernathy - Indiana, and always did a great job. RIP, Beaver.
 
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