William A. Smart III

William A. Smart III

AGE: 65 • Hayward

William Alexander Smart III, 65, died peacefully and surrounded by family at his home in Hayward, CA on October 17, 2015 following a long and valiant battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Melissa (Puppet) and daughter Alexandra; parents William A., Jr. (Bill) and Margaret (Peggy) Smart, Haddon Township, NJ; siblings Suzanne Smart, Albuquerque, NM; Carol Pietravalle (Richard), Nashua, NH; Mary Lou Smart (Tom Bernaciak), Washington, DC; Jim Smart, Palo Alto, CA; Kathy Smart, Haddon Township, NJ; nine nieces and nephews and their 15 children; and in-laws Cliff and Margie Foster, Hayward, CA.

Bill was a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend. He will be remembered for his wit, intelligence and patience and his love of travel, reading, hiking and history.

Born in New York City in 1950, Bill grew up in Connecticut. An Eagle Scout and National Merit Scholarship award recipient, he graduated from Pomfret School in Pomfret, CT and went to Stanford University on a full scholarship, receiving a bachelor's degree in history. He was an architect, and a real estate contractor and developer. After receiving a master's degree in management from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, he put his interest and expertise in investing to work as a general partner of limited partnerships.

Donations can be made, payable to College America, for Alexandra Smart's 529 college savings plan and sent to Jim Smart P.O. Box 742 Palo Alto, CA 94302.