Obituary of Elynor A. Smith

Elynor "Noni" Smith, 89, of Binghamton passed away Tuesday March 1, 2016 at Wilson Memorial Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband Richard "Dick" Smith; her parents, Henry and Alma Molke; her sister, Marian Dolan and brother-in-law, Joseph Dolan. She is survived by her son, David B. Smith, Binghamton; nephews, Michael (Lu Ann) Dolan and Patrick Dolan; nieces, Karen (LeRoy) Dolan Muth and Victoria Smith; great nephews, Sean (Meagen) Dolan and Bryce Dolan; great great nephews, Oliver and Louis Dolan. After graduating from Jefferson High School with honors in Lafayette, IN, she attended Purdue University where she earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees and met her husband of 56 years. She then went on to perform off Broadway in New York City from 1951 to 1953. She additionally performed Summer Theatre in Indiana, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She then settled in Granville, OH working at Denison University doing many shows on stage and under the "Big Tent". Upon coming to Binghamton in 1969 she worked at Binghamton University with her husband Dick Smith until retiring in 1996. She will be remembered for her many roles at the Cider Mill Playhouse from the summer of 1977 to the fall of 2006. Some of her most memorable roles were Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; as well as roles in Arsenic and Old Lace and of course the Gin Game. She was a fanatic supporter of the arts along with being a teacher and mentor to many young people in the performing arts as well as aspects of life outside the theatre. She was a member of the Shakespeare Dramatic Club of Binghamton in which she enjoyed reading and discussing his many works with the ladies. Noni's family would like to extend their eternal gratitude to the staff at Susquehanna Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (especially the 3rd Floor) for all their caring, comfort and kindness. Over the past three years you made it her home. Thank you for being there John S. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Elynor's name may be made to the Cider Mill Playhouse, 2 Nanticoke Ave, Endicott, NY 13760 or the Vi and John Bielenberg Scholarship Foundation. Make checks, in memory of Noni Smith, payable to the Binghamton University Foundation note the Bielenberg Theatre Scholarship acct 20556 in the memo section of the check. Mail to Binghamton University Foundation, PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005.