Bishop of Ogdensburg and Attica Resident

Lived: (August 31, 1905-October 9, 1963)

Biography

Leo was born in Attica and attended Canisius College where he earned a Bachelors of Arts in 1926. He then travelled to Rome to continue his studies obtaining a Ph.D. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 1928.

December 21, 1929 Leo became ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Basilio Pompili. 1930 he was named a Doctor of Sacred Theology by the Urban College of Propaganda and in 1932 received a doctorate in canon and civil law.

Afterwards he returned to New York to serve as a curate at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo until the year 1934. It was then that he became the assistant chancellor of the Diocese of Buffalo. From 1935-1941 he also served as diocesan director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and from 1941-1946 was the diocesan director of youth activities.

1942 Leo was raised to the rank of Papal Chamberlain and was made a Domestic Prelate in 1946. Later that year he would also become chancellor of the Diocese of Buffalo.

On June 30, 1952 Leo was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo and Titular Bishop of Marida by Pope Pius XII. Leo would receive his episcopal consecration on September 24, 1953 from archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani with Bishops Raymond Augustine Kearney and James H. Griffiths serving as co-consecrators, his same year he would be named vicar general of the Diocese of Buffalo.

1961 Leo became episcopal moderator of the National Apostleship of the Sea.

On May 13, 1963, after the transfer of James Johnston Navagh to Bishop of Paterson, Leo Smith was named the eighth Bishop of Ogdensburg.

Leo passed away at the age of 58 five months after taking his Ogdensburg Bishop position while attending the Second Vatican Council after suffering a heart attack.

Rev Leo Richard Smith is buried in Saint Mary's Cathedral Crypt in Ogdensburg, NY.

Family

Father: Adam Henry Smith

Mother: Mary Jane (O'Neil) Smith