Gordon Robert Smith

Bob was born on December 17, 1931, in Trenton, N. J. to the late Revere and Nellie Smith. He served in the United States Navy for four years; he was in Naval Intelligence during the Korean Conflict and served in the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

Bob graduated with honors from Rider College in Lawrenceville, N. J., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce. He was a member of the Alpha Zeta Epsilon Honorary Fraternity – Rider’s equivalent to Phi Beta Kappa – and in 1956, was named top scholar in the nation in the Alpha Gamma Epsilon Fraternity. In 1958 he was named in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. From 1958-1963, Smith was employed by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., CPAS.

Bob worked for the Singer Company from 1963-1970, where his last position was Controller of its Sewing Machine Consumer Products Division. In 1970, Bob became Controller of the Whittaker Corporation’s Bertram Yacht Division. He was subsequently promoted to Vice President of Finance at Bertram Yacht and, in 1975, to Chief Financial Officer of Whittaker’s Marine Group which was comprised of eight boating companies, including Bertram Yacht, Trojan Yacht, Riva (an Italian firm), and the Shepherd Boat Company (a Canadian firm). In 1977, he served as Acting President of the Shepherd Boat Company, and in 1984 as President of Trojan Yacht. Bob was promoted to Deputy Group Executive of Whittaker Marine Group and, in 1984, was promoted to Group Executive (CEO) of the same Group.

In 1996 Bob completed his Master’s Degree at FSU where he later became an accounting professor before retiring. He is a former member of the National Association of Accountants and the New Jersey Society of CPAs. He is currently a member of the National Marine Manufacturers’ Association (NMMA) and has served on the NMMA’s Statistics, Government Relations and Insurance Committees. Bob was also on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Boat Manufacturers.

On August 12, 1995 Bob married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betzi” Smith, and the two of them traveled the world and worked together on Former President Obama’s campaign. He is remembered as a wonderful person who always did the right thing. He was nicknamed “Smiley” because you never saw him without a smile on his face. Bob had a passion for all kinds of music. He turned any nearby surface into a drum and was always dancing. He also loved boating, golf and tennis.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Betzi. He is survived by his brother, Richard Smith; stepsons, John Beroset and Baron Wade Beroset; caregiver and friend, Kimberly Crumbie; close friend, Anne Cleare; and daughters, Debra Ann Smith and Julie Smith.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, August 19, 2022 at 11am at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Big Bend Chapter 2501 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 435, Dallas, TX 75219.