Cornelius H. “Nick” Smith, Jr., co-founder of Stonington Vineyards, died after a long illness on Nov. 2, 2016, at the age of 79. Along with his wife Happy, Smith purchased what is now Stonington Vineyards in the mid-1980s. Together they transformed the property into a tourist destination, and produced many award-winning wines along the way. Smith was passionate about the vineyard and worked actively throughout the state of Connecticut to promote farm wineries, serving as a member of the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association. He was “a devoted husband, father, brother and son, maintaining throughout his life strong connections to his extended family.” A service of remembrance will be held in Stonington on May 6, 2017 to commentate what would have been his 80th birthday. A full profile of the vineyard was run shortly before his death in the November 2016 issue of The Connecticut Beverage Journal.