Alden B. Smith

Alden Barton Smith was born on August 19, 1937, and died on July 26, 2026, at the age of 88 years. He counted himself among the lucky to take his first and last breaths in Austin, Texas. Like his wife of 66 years Barbara Leonard Smith, who preceded him in death by just 90 days, Alden had the good fortune to live in Austin when it was more cool than weird.

Alden was the second son of Mattie Lee and Curtis O. Smith. He attended University Junior High School, Austin High School, and the University of Texas. Alden wasn’t a great student, but his then fiancée Barbara was, and she saw him across the finish line at the University. Then it was off to the races for Alden and Barbara.

Alden loved his family, enjoyed his friends, and deeply believed in the extraordinary power of compound interest. In that order, mostly, we think … though compound interest was always a safe bet for second place.

Alden was an accomplished, insightful, disciplined, and successful man of business. He began his brokerage career with Rauscher Pierce in Dallas, but after a short stint returned to Austin. He was a fixture at Rauscher Pierce’s Austin office for nearly 20 years and built a sterling reputation in Austin’s business, banking, and real estate communities as a trusted investment advisor. Alden was a keen observer of the stock market and Austin’s business cycles over decades and never forgot that bust always follows boom. He was justifiably proud not to owe anything to anyone at the end of his life.

In 1979, Alden left Rauscher Pierce and began working for himself. He did it his way. Long before Covid, Alden figured out that working from a home office was both possible and practical. However, Barbara told Alden she may have married him “for better or worse, but not for lunch” … so began his daily sojourn to the men’s card room at the Austin Club, where his methodical and deliberate pace of play earned him the nickname “Speedo.”

During the tennis boom of the 1970s, Alden and Barbara found a sport that became a central part of their lives and the lives of their three sons: Leonard, Mark, and Lamar. Barbara and Alden became fixtures in the tennis world from the 1970s onward. Both loved the game better than they played, but made certain that their sons had the chance to compete as far as their talent would take them. Though not an accomplished player himself, Alden became a gifted coach and tactician. He was adept at constructing game plans for his sons to deploy against difficult opponents and, if the boys would follow them, those plans usually worked.

The tennis courts at Westwood Country Club were a happy place for Barbara, Alden, and their sons, but especially for Alden late in life. Tennis is a lifetime sport, and Alden kept at it until the very end. His twice weekly games with his usual group (which included Ed Buster, Tom McHorse, and Doyle Leslie) continued after Barbara’s passing. One of the most bitter days of Alden’s life came this past May when he realized that the infirmities of age had ended his days on the tennis court. In truth, he missed the camaraderie with his friends more than the game itself. That’s a beautiful part of tennis.

Beyond tennis, Alden was a consummate outdoorsman. He hunted the best fields and fished the best waters. He traveled and experienced the world. He safaried in Africa. He snow skied (poorly … he remained fully committed to the snow plow). He respected and enjoyed nature. Alden loved sunrises, sunsets, and campfires, especially in the company of friends and family. His son Mark was a favorite companion, as was his grandson Win.

Alden also had his eccentricities. His unusual sayings are legendary in our family and have brought smiles and laughter as we remember him.

Alden and Barbara were most proud of their grandchildren Win, Claire, Molly, Carley, Gray, Jacqueline, and McKenzie. As a toddler, their eldest grandson Win named them “Daedae” and “Baba” … and the names stuck. Daedae and Baba were well-known and well-liked fixtures in the stands at baseball and football games, dance recitals, volleyball matches and tournaments, and horse shows for more than 20 years. Baba was more of a “game time” grandparent. Let’s just say Daedae was more committed. He attended innumerable practices (sometimes hiding in the stands, sometimes not), scouted opponents, and would travel anywhere anytime to watch a game or a tournament.

Demonstrating Alden’s fixation on his grandchildren’s lives was the brunch spent at Pascal’s Manale in New Orleans where Alden crossed paths with James Carville, the Ragin’ Cajun himself, in the oyster bar. Alden spent at least twenty minutes regaling Carville with stories of his grandson’s high school baseball exploits and his granddaughter’s Westlake Hyline dances. Carville could not find a graceful exit, but took it like a gentleman.

Another memory is Alden crossing paths with former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova on a Turkish Air flight to Istanbul. Alden asked Maria, who is 6’2”, if she played volleyball and went on to extol the volleyball exploits of his 15 year old granddaughter. Note that Barbara was a high officer in international tennis bureaucracy at the time.

Alden spoke his final words on Saturday July 25th during a visit by his granddaughters Molly and Carley. He woke briefly, saw them, smiled, reached for their hands, and told them “I’m proud of you, and I love you.” Then Janis told him that his eldest granddaughter Claire would come as soon as she, Billy, and their newborn son could get discharged from Seton Hospital. Alden looked at Janis, clapped his hands softly three times, and said “Yay, yay, yay!”

Alden lived a charmed and lucky life. He was blessed with good fortune and good instincts. Alden was a good man, who will be well-remembered by his family and many, many friends. And so we write today in celebration of his life, his legacy, his joys, and his loves. We will miss him, but are comforted by the firm belief that Baba and Daedae have been reunited and will be waiting on us. Yay, yay, yay!

Alden’s family would like to thank the kind and skilled women who cared for him in his home since Barbara’s death: Rita Holmes, Melissa Holmes, Patti Amaro, Crystal Serrano, and Shana Jimenez. We are also most grateful to Beatrice Anderson, Coco Coronado, and Betty Rose Aguirre for their longstanding friendship and loyal service to Barbara and Alden. All were true friends to and through the end.

Alden will be buried next to Barbara in a private graveside service. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life at Matt’s El Rancho on August 18 from 5:30 – 8:30 pm.