Monday, August 15, 2022
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Alfie Smith was above all things, a gentleman.
Some of the very best memories of my life started off with Alfie suggesting, “What if we did this?” The first time he said it to me was the Mike Tyson - Michael Spinks fight. I came over that night and we watched it on Pay Per View and it was definitely the most exciting 91 seconds I had had in my life up till that point. And so whenever he said “What if we did this?” from 1985 on, it didn’t matter what the idea was—Puerto Rico, Vegas, New York, LA, Santa Barbara—I was IN.
While most of the times Alfie wore a tuxedo in his life were not with me, almost all the times I have worn one was with him. From the first moments of our friendship, Alfie included me in everything, and I went along for the ride.
Never have I laughed so hard with anyone. There are very few people that share the exact sense of humor that we developed together. The few that remain will have to keep the memory of his love and his enthusiasm and his passion for life, alive in his memory.
Give #IV him a big squeeze for me. I’ll see you fellas soon.
One more thing, before I go, I’ll tell you my favorite Alfie Smith quote. Whenever we were seated at a bar, and we have been seated at many together, he would offer a standing woman his seat and insist she take it. He NEVER asked anything in return for this gesture mind you.
He did it because he was a gentleman.
I asked him one time why he always insists on standing when a woman is present. He explained it was an old joke, that came from his days on the floor of the stock exchange. “When you work on the floor”, he said, “you never sit, not ever. From bell to bell, you are standing.” He continued “After work, at the bar, when I would sit down and have a beer, whenever a woman approached, I would stand and insist she take my seat, I’ve been sitting all day, I would say.”
But Alfie hadn’t been sitting. He hadn’t sat since even once since the 5:43 AM express from Darien that morning.
Thank you, Alfie. Thank you for teaching me how to be a gentleman.
And thank you for including me in so many of your adventures. I never had as much fun in my life before or since.
None of us did, or ever will again.
Your pal, Frank
