‘He Had a Huge Heart’: Sports Community Mourns the Unexpected Loss of 49-Year-Old Lacrosse Legend from Virginia

Final partings are always hard for us to bear. However, the grief becomes tenfold if it is abrupt and untimely. Likewise, the entire Lacrosse community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of the greatest players to have ever graced the game. In what was a shocking turn of events, Tommy Smith was declared dead on November 2, 2023. His age at the time of his demise was just forty-nine years. 

His untimely departure from the world has taken a heavy toll on the hearts of the lacrosse world. They did not expect that the legend of the game would leave them so early. However, Smith was a man in shining armor whenever he stepped foot on the lacrosse field. 

Tommy Smith was a legend of the game and for Lacrosse

When a little boy was born in central New York, neither his mother nor his College Football Official father knew that their son would be a legend. However, as time passed, Smith’s talent was on full display and today, he is an icon for the community. The recently deceased athlete started his journey for Virginia in the mid-1990s.

Smith had the option of playing for Syracuse due to their rich legacy of Black players. However, he ultimately chose to play for Virginia where he excelled significantly. Over the course of his playing years, Smith had a lot of accomplishments to show for. 

American Defenseman award while playing for Virginia. His antics on the field earned him a place in the Blaxers Blog/USA Lacrosse All-Time Black Lacrosse Team in the year 2021. The 49-year-old also was a part of two Hall of Fame inductions. Smith was inducted into the Upstate New York Hall of Fame and Fayetteville -Manlius Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 & 2017 respectively. 

A lot of people who knew Smith closely reminisced the days spent with him. Roy Colsey, the head coach of Ridgefield stated, “He had a huge heart” and remembered him.

People fondly remember Tommy Smith

Roy Colsey had been an opponent for Smith as he played for Syracuse. However, it was Smith’s character that won him over. Moreover, Colsey and Smith worked hand in hand in Ridgefield as coaches for three long seasons. Reflecting on his nature, Colsey further added, “One of the nicest guys you could ever meet.”

Colsey also was confident about the abilities of  Tommy Smith as a head coach. In an interview, Colsey stated that Smith would be taking over the reins once he retires from the helm post-2024. 

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According to his obituary, the legendary lacrosse player “struggled with alcoholism through the years and was working hard toward his goal of sobriety in his last days.” 

Smith has been survived by his three daughters, namely, Lila, Maddie, and Katie, and also by Molly Walsh, his ex-wife. 

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