Muriel K. Smith

Muriel K. Smith
March 1, 2016

Muriel K. Smith, 87, of Syracuse, passed away peacefully on Tuesday.

Muriel graduated from Hunter College in 1950. She was a female athlete when it was taboo to be. Muriel was the first Syracuse University Women's Basketball and Field Hockey Coach and a basketball title 9 trail blazer. As a Senior Games National Champion she was a badminton and table tennis extraordinaire.

Following her career at SU, Muriel worked as a social worker for Catholic Charities. She was also a homebound instructor for the Syracuse City School District until retirement. Above all else, she was a loving, selfless, never passing judgment matriarch of her family. She was predeceased by her husband, Nelson J. Smith, Jr.

Muriel is survived by her six children, Nelson (Maureen) Smith III, Michael (Deborah) Smith, Kathy (Steve Shattuck) Smith, Anne (Dennis) Ploettner, Clare Woods and Eileen (Thomas) Daly; 18 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Beatrice Kessler and Gertrude Vuono; a brother, Anton Bruchhauser and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Sunday 1-3PM at New Comer Funeral Home, N. Syracuse with a service to follow at 3PM.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice of CNY or to Francis House.

To leave a special message for the family please visit www.NewcomerSyracuse.com