Martin Harris Smith Jr.

SMITH, Martin Harris Jr., 91, of Temple Terrace, Florida, passed away on August 13, 2016. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1924 to Martin Harris Smith and Eva Smith. He was predeceased by his wife and mother of his children, Lois Muree Smith, who passed away September 11, 1996, his sister Virginia Barnhart, and his companion Joan Phillips. He is survived by three children (Jeff Smith and wife Karen, Douglas Smith and wife Mary Ann and Nancy O'Neill and husband Kevin), three grandchildren (Brian O'Neill, Eric O'Neill and Jennifer O'Neill) and his sister Sylvia Newmaker. He honorably served in the U.S. Air Force (second lieutenant Army Air Corps) as a B-17 pilot in World War II. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949 with a bachelor of arts degree in architecture. He received a master of arts degree in architecture from the University of Florida in 1955 and took additional post-graduate-level courses at Cornell University. He was an instructor and assistant professor at the University of Florida, College of Architecture from 1949-55. He then started a long career as a community planner. He was the director of advance planning for Chatham County in Savannah, Georgia, from 1956-60. He became the first executive director of the Hillsborough Planning Commission in Tampa, Florida, and served from 1960-1972. He then started his own firm as president of Martin Smith Associates Inc. He operated that community planning consulting firm from 1972-2008. He also served as a zoning hearing officer and zoning hearing master for Hillsborough County from 1985-2007. The county honored him for his work with a special service award in 1984. Martin will be fondly remembered for his quick wit and his devotion to his children and grandchildren. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Blount and Curry Funeral Home (Terrace Oaks), 12690 N. 56th Street, Temple Terrace, FL 33617. There will be a private burial later at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LifePath Hospice, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 300 West, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637.