The Quincy Police Department is publicly mourning the loss of Braintree Fire Lieutenant Paul J. Smyth, who died last Thursday at 64 after a long career on the South Shore. Visiting hours and a funeral Mass are planned for later this week, as family, friends and fellow first responders prepare to gather in his honor.
In a Facebook post, the Quincy Police Department extended its deepest sympathies to the Braintree Fire Department and to Smyth’s family, according to the department's message. Facebook also directs readers to service details, joining a growing line of condolences from neighboring agencies and colleagues across the region.
A life of service
Paul J. Smyth spent roughly three decades with the Braintree Fire Department after being appointed in 1996, and he was promoted to lieutenant in 2019. He also served as president of Local 920 and ran a landscaping business alongside his fire duties, according to his obituary. Legacy notes that he enjoyed hockey and that he is survived by his wife and three children.
Funeral arrangements
Visiting hours are scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals in Quincy, and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, May 27, at 10 a.m., the Quincy Police Department said in its post. The notice points friends and fellow first responders to those visiting hours and service details if they wish to attend.
Colleagues and family
The obituary notes that Smyth is survived by his wife, their three children and extended family, and that his brother, Gary A. Smyth, serves as interim chief of the Quincy Fire Department. The family has suggested donations to the Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute in Smyth’s memory, according to the obituary. Legacy includes full service information and a guestbook for those who want to leave messages.
