Obituary of Kyle B. Smith Esq.

Kyle B. Smith, Esq., 71, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at the Cleveland Clinic after a brief illness. He was born November 7, 1953, in Pensacola, Florida, the son of the late Neale and Gail (Hann) Smith. Kyle married the love of his life Lorraine Hengelbrok on June 11, 1987. Attorney Kyle B. Smith grew up in Southern California raising steers in 4-H and working on his parents' 3-acre orange orchard. He graduated from the University of California, Davis, in 1976 with a B.A. in American history, and law school at Willamette University in Salem Oregon in 1980. He was on the Willamette Law Review and published an article in 1979 on Native American law. Mr. Smith passed the Ohio Bar in 1980 and began a two-year teaching career at the University of Toledo Law School in Toledo, Ohio. In 1982 he began working for Ashtabula County Legal Aid and the Public Defender's Office and was appointed the Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Ashtabula in 1984. Later in 1984 he became the Law Director of Conneaut, Ohio and served in that capacity until June 1995. He has been in private practice since 1991 in Jefferson, Ohio. He also served as the City of Conneaut Law Director from 1984 to 1995 and again from 2015-2022, and City Solicitor of Geneva on the Lake, from 2005-2021 and Solicitor of, Roaming Shores, from 2010-present. Kyle has served on the boards of Homesafe, United Way, Ashtabula County Legal Aid, Leadership, the Ashtabula Arts Center, Ashtabula Arts Foundation, Community Counseling and the Conneaut Area City Board of Education. Kyle was an avid sailor and loved racing sail boats. He was past commander of the Ashtabula Yacht Club. He enjoyed painting and writing poems. He wrote a book of poems called, "Beyond the Breakwall". He was also a talented musician and enjoyed playing Irish Music and the fiddle. He also expressed his talents through woodworking. Kyle enjoyed the outdoors, he enjoyed biking, running, even completing a marathon which was a huge accomplishment. Traveling to Europe and seeing the world whether it be by land or water, he enjoyed taking in nature's beauty. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 37 years, Lorraine; father, Neale Smith; step-mother, Sheryl Thompson; brothers, Karl (Molly) Smith and Kurt (Onie) Smith; sister, Kathy Steele; aunt, Kathy Smith; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gail Smith in 1997; and sister, Karolyn Erickson; A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Animal Protective League, 5970 Green Rd., Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 Thompson-Smith- Nesbitt Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Conneaut is honored to handle arrangements. Online obituary and condolences at www.thompsonsmithnesbitt.com