November 14, 1929 – February 18, 2025
Brother Aquinas Richard, FMS, died at De La Salle Hall in Lincroft, New Jersey on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. He was 95 years old and in his 77th year of Marist religious life. Born on November 14, 1929, he was the son of the late William and Marguerite Regan Smollon.
Brother Aquinas entered the Marist Brothers’ Novitiate at St. Ann’s Hermitage in Poughkeepsie, NY and received the Marist habit in 1948. He pronounced his first vows there in 1949 and then went to the scholasticate at Marian College (now Marist University) where he completed a BA in Biology in 1952. He obtained an MA in Biology from Fordham University in 1959.
He began his long career as a teacher and coach at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY (1952-56), during which time he made his perpetual profession of vows in 1954. He then went on to St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, NY (1956-58), Bishop Dubois High School, New York, NY (1958-60) and finally to Archbishop Molloy High School, Briarwood, NY (1960-2018). He pronounced the Vow of Stability in Briarwood in 1964.
Throughout his active ministry years, Brother Aquinas taught biology and coached Cross Country and Indoor and Outdoor Track. He spent many summers working at Camp Marist in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, most recently welcoming guests at the Log Cabin.
Toward the end of his teaching career, he served in the science department at Archbishop Molloy preparing the labs for instruction. He spent a full life helping young people of New York City to acquire an excellent Christian education and develop into good athletes.
In 2018, Brother Aquinas retired to De La Salle Hall in Lincroft, NJ. For a brief time, he resided at the Marist community in Champagnat Hall in the Bronx, NY and then returned to De La Salle Hall where he was living at the time of his death.
In addition to his parents, Brother Aquinas Richard was predeceased by his two brothers, James and William Smollon and a sister, Marguerite Smollon Martin. He is survived by a sister, Joan Purcaro and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his Marist Brothers. Viewing will take place on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the Fox Funeral Home in Forest Hills, NY from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills at 7:00 PM. Burial will take place in the Marist Brothers Cemetery in Esopus, NY on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
Oh, what consolation we have, when about to appear before God, to remember that we have lived in the favor of Mary, and in her own Society. – St. Marcellin Champagnat
