Cara Maria Birrittieri

Born and raised in Dorchester, MA, Cara’s incredible fortitude was ignited at a young age. Her intellect, in conjunction with her innate need to communicate, compelled her toward a degree in journalism. Graduating from Boston Technical High School in 1977, Cara continued her higher education at Wheaton College receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in journalism at Emerson College, spawning her career as a reporter and news broadcaster.

Cara began her journalism career as a television reporter at Channel 5 in Bangor, Maine. She went on to find opportunities at NECN Boston and Channel 5 WCVB Boston before anchoring her prowess with Reuters news. She felt privileged to report on some of the world’s most unforgettable stories, including John F. Kennedy, Jr. ‘s plane crash on Martha’s Vineyard; covering 9/11 from Ground Zero; interviewing Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins; and, perhaps most exhilarating, her broadcast from the navigation seat in an F-14 Tomcat from the Cape Cod Naval Air Base.

Cara was a star in the field of journalism: she was a published author and a multi award-winning journalist.

Loving land and sea alike, Cara was a considerable supporter of the New England Aquarium. Somewhat apropos, she was a proud member of the Moray Wheels Club, a dive club that encourages the sport’s accessibility for the handicapped.

Cara’s love of learning and knowledge followed her to Western New York after the family settled in Lakewood in 2012. She was elected as the first female mayor of the Village of Lakewood, was the Health and Science reporter for The Villager newspaper, and was a beloved substitute teacher at Maple Grove High School in Bemus Point.

Despite troubling symptoms prior to her ALS diagnosis, true to form, Cara skied the Rocky Mountains with son AJ, completed her 100th deep sea dive while vacationing in Puerto Rico, and organized family trips to Italy and Las Vegas.

Cara will be remembered as a devoted mother, loving wife, sister and aunt, and a fun-loving, devoted friend.

The radiant light Cara’s soul cast upon this world will be deeply missed by her husband, Allen “Jackson” Smith, Jr., whom she married in 1999; her children, Allen Jackson Smith III (AJ) and Victoria Maria Smith; her sister, Gina (Christopher) Birrittieri Enock; her brother, Domenic (Katherine) Birrittieri; and her nephews, Andrew Enock and Alexander Enock.

Besides her parents, Cara was preceded in death by her sister, Lisa Birrittieri, in 2018.

The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 1:00 to 2:30 pm on Wednesday, February 19 at Lind Funeral Home, Jamestown, NY. The funeral service for Cara will immediately follow at 3 pm at Bethel Lutheran Church, Jamestown, NY and all friends of Cara are welcome.

There will also be a Celebration of Life gathering held in Boston on Saturday, March 22 at 2 pm at the Old Colony Yacht Club at 235 Victory Road, Dorchester, MA. Friends are invited to come and celebrate Cara’s remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made, in Cara’s name, to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701. In addition, donations can be made to Project Main Street, a New York based 501c3 dedicated to providing financial grants to individuals living with ALS. (www.projectmainstreet.org)

To leave words of condolence, please visit lind funeralhome.com