Carol Smith Obituary
Carol graduated from Summit High School in 1953 and from the University of Rochester in 1957. She had a lifelong love of playing the clarinet in bands and orchestras. Using her biology major she worked for pharmaceutical companies in New York, Texas and Delaware, both beginning and ending this career at Ciba (Ciba-Geigy) in Summit, New Jersey. Her work involved guiding medicines from their development to acceptance by the Federal Drug Administration.
Upon retiring in the Summit area Carol gained respect and admiration for her gardening expertise, especially with roses. She volunteered with Our Lady of Peace Garden Angels Ministry and was responsible for developing and maintaining their rose garden. She helped myriad friends and relations create and restore their gardens and received many trophies from the North Jersey Rose Society. Music continued to be important in her life and she served as librarian and then president of the Summit Symphony.
The New Providence Historical Society also benefited from Carol's work on the Board and the yearly Lawn Sale. As well she took loving care of and traveled with her widowed Mom (Agnes Muldowney Smith). And she was never without a cat - indoors or homeless ones enjoying her garden. Wherever she worked or volunteered she shared her love of cooking and baking, gardening, and music with gifts from her kitchen and gardens.
Surviving Carol are her sister-in-law Florence Smith, niece Melanie Carol O'Brien (Thomas O'Brien, Megan, Jennifer), and nephew Craig Steven Smith (Tracy Scofield, Tristan). Her brother Howard Michael Smith passed away in 2014.
There will be a viewing on Sunday Feb 8th from 4 to 6 pm at Ippolito Memorial, 7 Summit Ave, Summit NJ. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Peace, 111 South St in New Providence, at 10 am on Monday Feb 9th.
Family was of utmost importance to Carol and she passionately supported research into a cure for ALS ever since her father (Howard Paul Smith) died from this disease in 1970.
In lieu of flowers a contribution could be made to the ALS Therapy Development Institute www.als.net
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Jack Sayre
February 7, 2026
My parents, John and Frances Sayre were good friends with Carol's, Howie and Honey starting back in the 1930's. Since Carol and I were both born in 1935 we got dragged along to picnics, get together and just visiting. I have a photo somewhere of the two us as toddlers in a playpen.
Carol lived New Providence, NJ that didn't have a high school so she rode "pony express" school bus to Summit High from which we both graduated in 1953. Besides being a musician, she was a straight A student.
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Concetta Angeli Duval
February 5, 2026
I am so very sorry to hear of Carol's death. She and I met at the University of Rochester when we were both freshmen. We struggled through some of the same courses--organic chemistry for one--and kept in touch for many years after graduation. The attached photo was taken at our 50th U of R reunion in 2007. Carol is fifth from the left, and I'm fourth from the right.
Carol was also one of my bridesmaids when my husband and I were married in 1958. We kept in touch at least once a year, and I last spoke to her a few years ago, calling because I had not received a Christmas card from her. We spoke for a short time, but it was clear that she was not well.
From reading her obituary, I'm sure she leaves many friends, and in particular, her sister-in-law and niece with whom she was very close. My condolences go out to them especially and to all who knew and loved her.
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7 Summit Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
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