Nancy Keck Smith of Stamford, CT and longtime resident of Greenwich, CT passed peacefully at Stamford Hospital surrounded by loving family on March 2, 2024, at age 93. Born in Hempstead, Long Island, NY in 1930, she was the third child of Marjorie Brown Keck and Ernst Madison Keck.

Nancy was raised in Williston Park, Long Island and Pittsford, Vermont before attending Northfield School for Girls and graduating from Smith College in 1953. She majored in Italian Literature and Art History and thoroughly enjoyed her junior year abroad in Florence, Italy when she traveled extensively throughout Europe. She was honored to be Chairman of her 25th Reunion at Smith in 1978.

Upon graduating, she worked as an Assistant Buyer at Bloomingdales in New York City where she met and married Dr. James W. Smith, a renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon. They had a long, happy marriage of 53 years until his death in 2006.

They lived in New York City until 1969 when they moved to Old Greenwich, CT, subsequently moving to the Belle Haven area of Greenwich in 1974. In 2014, Nancy moved to EdgeHill in Stamford, CT where she resided for the rest of her life.

Nancy and Jim Smith purchased The Homestead Inn in 1979 with another Greenwich couple, Charlie and Lessie Davison. Nancy and Lessie were innkeepers and restaurateurs for nearly 20 years, and under their ownership and management, The Homestead was completely refurbished and restored to a traditional New England décor by noted designer John Saladino. They introduced French Nouvelle Cuisine with Jacques Thiebault, formerly the sous chef at La Cirque in New York City. The restaurant obtained four stars from the New York Times for its cuisine and the inn was included in many guide books, including Country Inns And Back Roads. Nancy and Lessie also recorded a commercial for American Express as part of the credit card company's 'Do You Know Me?' ad campaign.

Nancy was gracious and generous. She enjoyed hosting and attending any social event. Always the life of the party, she was comfortable with anyone and everyone. She had ten very happy years living and participating in many activities at EdgeHill. She particularly enjoyed meals with her friends, aqua-aerobics, the piano performances, the many varied lectures and talks (opera, politics, world events) and any performances or visits by outside performers (especially children).

As successful as she was at The Homestead, Nancy always said her proudest achievement was raising a family of five children. In addition, she was a loving grandmother to twelve grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter Lucinda (Richard) Hay and their children Jasmine (Eric) Andersen, Vivienne and Russell; Judith (Zeke) Fairbank and their children Taylor, Nathaniel and Nancy (Peter) Fairbank; James (Julie) and their sons James (Mary Alex), Andrew and Brett; Constance (Hollis) Plimpton and their sons Hollis and Christopher; and Peter (Nicole) and their son Evan, and many other loving family and friends.

Arrangements are being handled by Fred D. Knapp Funeral Home of Greenwich, CT. Please send any condolences to: The Smith Family, 1621 Notre Dame Drive, Mountain View, CA 94040 or online through Fred D. Knapp, www.greenwichfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to The First Presbyterian Church, 1 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Greenwich Sentinel from Mar. 25 to Mar. 31, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Nancy Smith

Sponsored by Fred D. Knapp & Son Funeral Home - Greenwich.

2 Entries

Gary Yovan

March 13, 2024

I had the privilege of knowing Nancy Smith for many many years, I met her through clients of mine When I was styling hair at panache salon in old Greenwich, Sending love And my condolences to her family, including Vivienne, Nancy`s granddaughter, Who also graced my chair.

wendy rieger

March 7, 2024

I remember Nancy Smith coming to see me, with my mother and their friends, when I was attending a hotel management school in Washington Depot, CT. Nancy came to my house to drink my home made lemonade. I can say with absolute accuracy that Nancy Smith is the kindest woman I have ever met in my life. Ad to that no entitlement, grandiosity or ego and her astounding brilliance in so many subjects, including her gift to turn a restaurant into a raving success with no backround in that field. I am so saddened to hear of her passing without the oppurtunity to give her a last kiss and hug. I will profoundly miss one of the women I was so blessed to know and that through her kindness towards every person she might meet, the poor person in a back way alley with no money to the brilliant doctors in the world, like her husband Jim, Nancy had to say nothing to me, as she showed people how to treat other people, through kindness to everyone, and this is how Nancy Smith conducted herself as long as I knew her, most of my life. I am so blessed to know Nancy Smith and that many also knew her and were also blessed. I will miss her so much. Nancy Smith is a treasure, and I am sure she is looking down on us from heaven. God bless Nancy and her wonderful family. The Rieger family from Greenwich, Ct and now Naples, Florida are grieving for this loss. I will think of all my memories of her. She matters so much to us. Wendy Rieger

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