Phyllis Nadine Smithey

October 27, 1951 – January 12, 2017

Phyllis Nadine Smithey, Esq., age 65, passed away unexpectedly on January 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The eldest of seven children born to the late Philip J. Smithey, M.D. and his wife, Sallie L. Johnson, Phyllis’ childhood development and ultimately her life pursuits were powerfully influenced by her experiences growing up in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania before making a permanent home in Washington, D.C.

Blessed with a keen intellect and a rare combination of artistic and leadership ability, Phyllis was an outstanding student who earned high praise and numerous honors and awards. Phyllis studied ballet under Marion Yahr at the Wisconsin College of Music and developed a lifelong interest in graphic arts that began during her childhood in Wisconsin and was nurtured through private lessons and school-based extracurricular activities. Phyllis was an avid reader who delighted in fiction, theatre, and creative expression in many forms. As a child, Phyllis challenged herself to read a book a day throughout summer vacations from school. Around the age of 10, Phyllis began studying the violin, an instrument she would later make the focus of her first university degree.

As an honor student in Elmer L. Meyers High School, Phyllis was an active member of the Meyers High School Modern Choir, an interest which would have a profound influence on her activities later in life; as well as a member of the Drama Club, French Club, Y-Teens and other school organizations engaged in community service activities. Phyllis was also a sports enthusiast and member of the Meyers High School Varsity Cheerleading squad.

Phyllis became an accomplished violinist who was among a select group of students from high schools across the area chosen to play in the Northeastern Pennsylvania District Orchestra Festival, earning the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Certificate of Merit for Better School Music. Phyllis was again selected to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association Regional Orchestra Festival based on her outstanding performance in the district festival and subsequently earned selection to the Pennsylvania All-State Orchestra.

Upon graduating from high school in 1969, Phyllis enrolled in Howard University’s College of Fine Arts, in Washington, D.C., where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree with Honors in Violin and Music History. While at Howard, Phyllis was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority but continued to develop and build upon her love for music and fine arts and joined the world-renowned Howard Choir.

Following graduation from Howard University in 1974, Phyllis enrolled in the Georgetown University School of Law where she earned the Juris Doctorate degree in 1978. Upon completing her law degree, Phyllis successfully undertook the challenge of sitting for the District of Columbia Bar Exam, which is known to be one of the most difficult in the entire United States, becoming a member of the District of Columbia Bar in 1978.

Over the past 38 years, Phyllis has worked tirelessly as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel for the United States International Trade Commission which celebrated its 100th Anniversary in August 2016. As senior counsel and lead author of multiple legal publications related to tariff, intellectual property or trade law cases or serving as the attorney advisor to multiple Commissioners over the course of her extraordinary career, Phyllis was the recipient of several awards and citations and received numerous Superior Performance Awards.

President Obama, in his letter to the Commission commemorating the centennial, wrote “…through your efforts to end harmful trade practices or provide insight on our county’s competitiveness, the USITC has provided 17 Presidents and 50 Congresses with the technical skills and advice they need to strengthen our Nation’s trade policies.”

Phyllis believed that the performing arts bonded all of us as human beings and that art in every culture and every form can be transformational. When not practicing law, Phyllis remained engaged in musical and artistic pursuits, which included performing with the world-renowned Howard University Choir under the direction of Dr. J. Weldon Norris. As a member of the choir, Phyllis performed and competed in vocal competitions held in Europe and the former Soviet Union. In more recent years, Phyllis redirected her artistic talents and interests toward the study of art, and more specifically, painting, portraiture and sculpture. For many years, she studied as a continuing education student at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Philip J. Smithey and her brother, Dr. Philip D. Smithey. She is survived, and will be forever remembered for her loving kindness, generosity, and genuine affection by her mother, Mrs. Sallie J. Smithey of Gaithersburg, Maryland and her siblings: Philippa N. Smithey of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Thomas W. Smithey of Silver Spring, Maryland; Marian P. Smithey of Hyattsville, Maryland; Tracey E. Smithey of Lutz, Florida; and Leslie F. Smithey of Briarcliff Manor, New York.

A loving and beloved aunt, Phyllis will be missed by her nieces and nephews: Joseph T. Smithey of Silver Spring, Maryland; William A. Jefferson of Beijing, China; David C. Jefferson of Baltimore, Maryland; Philip A. J. Smithey and Leslie E. Smithey of Los Angeles, California; Jon P. J. Smithey of Dallas, Texas; Stefanie A. Smithey of Washington, D.C.; Jared C. J. Lane of Briarcliff Manor, New York; and, Patria A. Smithey and Gabriela D. Johnson of Lutz, Florida.

In addition to her immediate family, Phyllis will be sadly missed by her aunt Sylvia J. Carroll and cousin Marcus Carroll of Houston, Texas; cousins Carolyn H. Dickerson, Glenarden, Maryland and Ashani C. Motisola, Washington, D.C.; and, sisters-in-law, Donna T. Holder-Smithey of Silver Spring, Maryland and Chantel D. Smithey of Dallas, Texas. Other close extended family members by whom she will be missed include Dionne and Delica Holder of Washington, D.C.; Fianna Holder-Phills and Fiona Holder-Griffiths of Bowie, Maryland and their families.

And, finally, to all the many other extended family members, and friends, neighbors, acquaintances, co-workers, classmates, and colleagues that Phyllis acquired throughout her life and are far too numerous to include in this space, your love, kindness, and friendship are gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.

A memorial service will be held on January 28, 2017, at 1:00 pm at the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Arrangements under the direction of

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

Silver Spring, Maryland