David K. Smith

Smith, David K. 77 Dec. 05, 1935 Aug. 14, 2013 David K. "Deke" Smith of Topsham, Maine, died Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the age of 77, following complications from cancer. Deke was born in Rochester, N.Y. on Dec. 5, 1935 to Doris King Smith and Gregory Smith. The family moved to Marblehead, Mass. when Deke was a child. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1954 and Harvard College in 1958. He earned a Master's Degree in Education from Harvard in 1963. At both Exeter and Harvard Deke was an avid athlete, excelling in soccer, alpine skiing and mountaineering. While at Harvard, he was a member of the Fly Club. Deke began his career as a math and Latin teacher at the Groton School in Mass. and then moved to Harvard where he was Director of Admission and subsequently Dean of Admission at Radcliffe College. Following his work in admissions, Deke became the Assistant Director of The Boston Foundation. In 1977, he returned to Harvard as Senior Development Officer. In addition to his work, he founded and coached the Harvard cycling team and he was an advisor, mentor and friend to many of his students. In 1986, Deke left Harvard to start his own educational consulting practice. He worked in this capacity until shortly before his death. He married Nancy Bassett in 1960 and they raised three daughters in Weston, Mass. Deke was an avid sailor, skier and cyclist and he distinguished himself as an accomplished bike racer, winning the Masters Division of the District Time Trials in 1981. He also competed in several national championships. He often commuted from Weston to his office in Cambridge on his bike. While other commuters carried their briefcases in the office elevator, Deke carried his front wheel. He was an early supporter of Green Power, a community garden for inner city residents and he was also instrumental in the creation of the Weston Maple Sugar Shack which still operates today at the Weston Middle School. After his divorce from Nancy in 1991, he met and married Nancy Knocke of Portland in 1995. He joined Nancy in her educational consulting practice and they founded Smith Educational Consulting. Deke was one of the founding members of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Assn. The Smiths enjoyed playing golf together and also raised a special black standard poodle named Mimi. Deke and Mimi joined the Dove Lewis Pet Assisted Therapy program and spent many hours visiting patients at the Veterans Hospital as well as various assisted living facilities in Portland. Deke and Nancy moved to Maine in 2011 and enjoyed auditing classes at Bowdoin College in Brunswick and volunteering in the community. Deke is survived by his wife, Nancy; his three daughters; two cousins; and six grandchildren. In addition he leaves Nancy's two daughters, Alison Forbes of Portsmouth, N.H. and Ashley Bowles of Edina, Minn.; their husbands Jamie Forbes and Scott Bowles; and their five children. Nancy will relocate to Portland from Maine. Deke was a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club and The Reserve Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Deke's name can be made to Dove Lewis Emergency Veterinary Hospital on NW Pettygrove St. in Portland.