David Smith

Smith, David S.
March 25, 1917 - February 22, 2013
David S. Smith, 95, of Los Angeles, California passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, February 22, 2013.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Harriet of almost 60 years, his treasured children Joy (Ron Wilson), Lee (Susan Black-Smith) and Nina (Michele Parsons) and his incredibly cherished grandchildren, Ryan, Dylan, and Bradshaw.
He loved his upbringing in the warm, supportive community of Boyle Heights in the 1920s. He attended Roosevelt High School.

David was proud of being the first person in his family to attend college, and graduated from UCLA with his undergraduate degree in 1939 and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University in 1942. He practiced law for 70 years, going to the office almost every day until this week. Having been admitted to the California Bar in 1943, David was the second longest practicing attorney in California.

David was a founding partner of Richards, Watson, Smith and Hemmerling and a co-founding partner of the Law Offices of Smith & Smith. He was chairman of several California State Bar Committees, including a member of the Executive Committee of the Conference of Delegates of the California Bar Association. He was a very well respected member of the LA legal community and a past president of the Lawyers Club of Los Angeles and a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

He was also active in a number of charities, philanthropies, Democratic organizations and campaigns, a Past President of B'nai Brith and Board member of the Jewish Centers Association, Westside Jewish Community Center St. Jude's Hospital, and the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce.

David was instrumental in creating what is considered the oldest and most successful government supported housing for Senior Citizens in Fresno, California and was its leader for many years.

He loved sailing, deep sea sport fishing, swimming in the ocean, travel, tennis and was a racquetball champion at the young age of 60.

He loved being at the gym with his friends, and until recently, worked out 6 days a week. If law didn't work out for him, he could have been a professional gardener keeping plants alive no one else could.

His life will be celebrated with a service at Mount Sinai Memorial Park on Tuesday, February 26 at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hadassah Hospital (www.hadassah.org).