Seymour H. Smith

Seymour H. Smith

AGE: 92 • Colts Neck

Seymour H. Smith, 92, of Colts Neck, an attorney whose career spanned almost 60 years as a Vice President and General Counsel of Loews Theaters in New York, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at Care One in Wall Township. He was a native New Yorker who spent the last two years of his life living in New Jersey near his family. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University and his law degree from Harvard University. His life spanned the military, social and economic challenges of the 20th century. While at Harvard University, Mr. Smith was among the first U.S. Army draftees for the upcoming World War II effort in 1940. After basic training, he was assigned to Officers' Candidate School and then to the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth. Coincidently, Lt. Smith was studying radar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when his original Harvard Law School class graduated. He spent most of his World War II service in Iceland watching for German airplanes. He never spoke much about the planes, but he did mention that the Icelandic women were beautiful. Upon returning to civilian life as a reservist, Mr. Smith completed his law school studies. He graduated and passed the New York bar in 1947 and in 1950 was called up for another two years in the Korean War. With his law degree in tow, he was assigned to the Army Judge Advocate's Office where he served mostly as a defense counsel in criminal cases. After being discharged in 1952, he met and married Edith Polansky of Toms River in 1953. He became a lawyer for the Loews Corporation and was promoted to executive vice-president and general counsel. He was an expert in matters dealing with theater development and real estate acquisitions. He was an avid bridge player who was a member of The Vanderbilt Bridge Club, The Franklin Bridge Center and The Bridge Express located on Long Island, New York. He played bridge all his life but almost every day in his retirement years.

He was predeceased by his wife, Edith, in 2007. He is survived by his brother, Marvin Smith and his wife Carol of Millville; his sister, Carolyne Smith Saltzbart of Colts Neck; nephews, Edward Smith and Philip Saltzbart and his wife, Karen of Colts Neck; nieces, Pamela Spahn and her husband, John Spahn, Boyds, MD; Susan Saltzbart Kilsby and her husband Richard Kilsby of London, England, and Sally Saltzbart Minier of Colts Neck; and three grandnieces and two grandnephews. He is sorely missed by his friend and bridge partner, Arthur Samet of Plainview, NY; and his administrative assistant, Judi Olsen of New Milford.

Burial took place at the Toms River Jewish Community Cemetery on Friday, July 20, 2012. Donations may be made in his memory to the Will Rogers Institute for medical research pertaining to cardio-pulmonary diseases, where Mr. Smith served on the Board of Directors at www.wrinstitute.org.