Philip Carlyle Smaby

February 17, 2009
To Mark, Gary, John and Anne,

I was going through a box of memorabilia and found a Christmas card from your family. This led to a web search. I was saddened to learn of the passing of both Phil and Margaret. I doubt that you would remember me. Your parents were gracious hosts when I stayed with your family while attending Gale Institute in 1957. Please accept my sympathy for your losses. Also best wishes for health and happiness in the future.

In Peterson we shall never forget Phillips speech at the All Class Reunion in 2005 when he spoke of his brother, Norris, and his athletic abilities.

To Anne and family, I am very sorry for the loss of your dad. He obviously lived a very fulfilling meaningfull life. My thoughts are with you at this time. Treasure the memories!
tom

Krista,
I don't know if you remember me, as I only had a brief tie, through BAA, many years ago. However, I want to give you my condolences about your grandpa. I read the article about him, and he sounds like he truly lived life to the fullest. May the memories lessen your sadness.
Blessings,
Laurie Syverson

It was in 1979 when Mr. Smaby stopped in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota at an ice cream shop called the Treat Shoppe where I worked. I was 16 years old. I remember that evening when I was cleaning up, I found a wallet. Of course, I opened to wallet to see who it belonged to and it belonged to Mr. Smaby. I set the wallet aside until the next morning when my boss came in (which happened to be my aunt) and gave her the wallet and told her that I had found it the night before in our ice cream shop. My aunt contacted Mr. Smaby (how she found him I don’t know). The wallet and its contents were returned to Mr. Smaby. About a month had passed when I received a package in the mail. Inside the package was a thank-you letter and gift from Mr. Smaby (on the Bermel-Smaby Realty letterhead) thanking me for being such an honest young lady and returning his wallet. I have kept the gift all of these years and have thought of Mr. Smaby now and then remembering what a nice man for sending me that gift.

As a young person right out of high school I had the pleasure of working for Phil Smaby. During my many tasks I had the pleasure to get to him both at the Lyndale office and at his home. He was a very geniune and honest man. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Phil Smaby was the first to encourage me to learn how to be a speaker and a part of National real estate. Back in 1977, I was confident, but looking at the pictures, anyone could wonder...can this be?

Phil encouraged me, and was mentor to many others who got involved in organized real estate. He gave,and gave, and gave. His "dozen" group of leading brokers read like a who's who of real estate back in the day. He was a founder and an anchor of the best days of real estate. That's my opinion!

Phil treated everyone the same. "Treat 'em all alike" he would preach to Bermel Smaby newbies and veterans alike. He had story after story of being surprised by people's ability to buy homes, develop land, or do good things. Phil believed in others and built belief in other people at the same time.

While I never got in on the card games played to and from real estate events, I've talked to many who played with Phil over the past 40 years who thought he was a real sharpie.

The haircut, the belief in others, and the willingness to "visit" were consistent indicators that you were talking to the genuine article. Mr. P. C. Smaby, from Peterson, MN.

We'll miss him!

Dave Beson

My thoughts are with you as you go through these most difficult days.

To the family of Philip Smaby:

Please accept our sympathy for your loss. It was an honor to be with Philip during his final days. May your memories bring you comfort.

Sincerely,
The Fairview Hospice Team

So sorry to hear about your Dad. You are in our thoughts today.

Jesse & Veneta Lykken

Sorry to hear about your loss, my dad (Leon Shapiro) was a good friend of his and I remember meeting Phil and Margaret on many occaisions. They were extremely kind people. My thoughts are with you.

i worked for bermel-smaby all thru the mid-
60's, while at washburn.
you are in my thoughts and prayers.
it is so hard to lose a dad.

In 1951, when my parents tried to buy a house in Edina and were turned away because they were Jewish, a very kind, very generous and very upset realtor with Bermel Smaby took over the search and helped my folks find a wonderful house on the Minneapolis side of the city line, on Newton Hill above Minnehaha Creek. Bermel-Smaby has been part of our best family stories ever since. The absorption of Bermel-Smaby into other larger realtors was a sad day for me. - Deborah Morse-Kahn (Howard & Joyce Kahn's girl) in Linden Hills.

I was very sad to hear of the passsing of your Father, Statesman,Leader in everyway. The entire Real Estate Industry lost a very special person. My sincere condolenses to your entire family.

I am so saddened by the loss of your dear father. I have such fond memories of spending time with him at the Smaby cabin and Robby still has the arrowhead Phil gave him almost 7 years ago. What a wonderful man who will be missed by so many.

Our thoughts and prayers to the Smaby family, Jim, Judy and Robby Guerrero

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. Our deepest sympathy for the loss of your father. He left an outstanding legacy and stood above the rest.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family in this time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. I have such great memories of Phil and his wonderful family going back so many years. God bless all of you in this time of sorrow.

I was saddened to read about the passing of my long time friend, Phil. We enjoyed talking about old times when we would see each other at Torske Klubben. My sympathy goes to his entire family. I am sorry that I will not be able to attend his service in person.

My thoughts and prayers have been with you as you took this final journey with Phil. It is hard to think of him as having passed because he was such a larger than life kind of guy. He was always ready with a big teddy bear hug, a handshake, a smile and at least one story, his presence will truly be missed. Our heartfelt sympathy to all of you. Blessings, Mary and John