Obituary

Harry “Geno” Smith, a longtime Costa Mesa resident, died of

complications after surgery for an aneurysm July 22. He was 74.

Mr. Smith was born in Kokomo, Ind., on July 29, 1924. He moved his

family to Costa Mesa in 1960 to open the county’s first Stater Bros.

Market on Newport Boulevard and 22nd Street. Encouraged to buy his own

market by Leroy Stater, Mr. Smith opened produce stores at Bayshores and

the Balboa Market on the peninsula serving clients such as John Wayne and

James Cagney.

He is survived by wife of 54 years Undyne; three sons Larry, Jerry and

Tommy; mother Lois; brother Charlie; sister Donna; and nine

grandchildren.

Because Mr. Smith served on a seagoing tug during World War II, his

ashes were put to sea on a tug.