Keith Brooks Smith

“KB” was born December 12, 1929, in Franklin Grove, Illinois. He was the oldest of five brothers and one sister born to Lucille Brooks and Richard Smith. He graduated from Franklin Grove high school in 1948 and left for Alaska with a high school buddy on his first great adventure. They spent three months working in Alaska, and on their drive home were reported to be the first civilians to cross Canada on the ALCAN highway. This first adventure led to a love of travel that took him to 50 states, 50 countries and all seven continents. In 1950 he moved to Connecticut where he met and married Florence Gioella, bought an ice cream store franchise, a drive-in movie theater, and then opened an advertising agency. The advertising business took him to New York City in 1964 where he was a marketing executive for two upstart discount department store chains. In 1972 he met Mace Siegel and Dana Anderson and partnered with them for the next phase of his business career: the acquisition, management and re-development of major retail mall shopping centers. Macerich’s move from New York City to Santa Monica in 1976 brought Keith & Florence to California.

He retired in 1988 after 26 years with Macerich, and started a new company, Dove Street Capital Lenders, which he ran until his passing.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Florence G. Smith, his sons Dane, (wife Judy), and Jeffrey, his grandsons Ryan Smith, (Lauren), Kyle Smith, (Nicole), Dylan Smith and Keith Carlisle Smith, (and his mother Melinda Watts Smith), as well as four great grandchildren, Kaylee Rose Smith, Nico Cirone Smith, and James David Smith. He also leaves a brother Richard Ferris Smith, and his sister Mary Lynn Hayenga. He was pre-deceased by his oldest grandson Tyler Brooks Smith.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 29 at 2:00 pm at Pacific View Mortuary Legacy Chapel in Corona Del Mar.