Edward Smith

He studied English and political science at New York University, where he received a BA. While an undergraduate student, he sang in a prize-winning interracial quartet; at night he worked as a reporter. He went on to earn an MA from Columbia School of Journalism, and pursue a career as a journalist.

He met Betty Silverman at a college dance in New York City. He and Betty married in 1956, while he was working in West Virginia, where the two of them lived for a year and a half. There, he was employed by the Associated Press as a reporter, and was assigned to cover the Statehouse and the Courts. This sparked his interest in law. Ed and Betty moved to Jackson Heights, and Ed pursued a law degree from New York University Law School at night, while continuing to work for the Associated Press during the day. Combining his interests in journalism and law, he became a lawyer for the New York Times, then Newsweek, before joining the firm of Hollyer, Brady, Smith, where he specialized in litigation in publishing.

Ed also served in the U.S. Army; he was in the Signal Corps School and Armed Forces Information School in Alabama.

Ed was a walking textbook of Western history, and was fascinated by politics. He loved music—early Broadway musicals, classical (he and Betty frequented concerts at Tanglewood), and he was an opera aficionado who took great pleasure in attending the Metropolitan Opera.

Yet he was an informal person, who enjoyed eating at good diners and engaging in animated conversations; he was casual and comfortable to be around. Ed had a robust spirit and saw humor everywhere—right to the end of his life. He enlivened social situations, whether with serious commentary or joke telling. He was also kind-hearted, and known to go out of his way to help others.

Ed was a loving husband, and a warm and dynamic member of his extended family and circle of friends. He died on March 15, 2016, of congestive heart failure and pneumonia. He will be missed; his memory will live on.

He is survived by Betty Smith, his wife of 60 years; his sister, Dorothy Keeler and her family; the family of Jules Glenn; his extended family; and friends.

Memorial gifts can be sent to the American Heart Association, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

Graveside service for Edward Smith took place Friday March 18, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at Beth Moses Cemetery located in Farmingdale, New York.

Services were conducted by Schwartz Brothers- Jeffer Memorial Chapels 114-03 Queens Blvd. Forest Hills, NY 11375. For additional information please contact us 718-263-7600.