Jacgue R. Smith

Jacque Rodney Smith died on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Riverwoods campus in Exeter, New Hampshire, surrounded by his family. Jacque adored life and his family, and made new friends easily everywhere he went. He was 90 years old and had celebrated his "Nifty Ninetieth" birthday last October with a treasured circle of family and friends.

Jacque was born in Shillington, Pennsylvania, on October 13, 1935. He was the youngest of four children born to Ethan Allen and Mary Elizabeth Smith (ne Tyson). His father served in World War I as a muleteer, earning a Silver Star Medal; after the war, he and Mary worked in a hosiery factory in Shillington, where they met.

Jacque attended Shillington High School and followed in his older brother, Ethan's, footsteps, studying mechanical engineering at Lehigh University, graduating in 1957. While at Lehigh, he was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and played saxophone and clarinet in the marching band.

The early days of Jacque's career were spent at Union Carbide in Philadelphia and eventually, Boston. Jacque's adventurous spirit and curiosity about life beyond small-town Pennsylvania drove him to explore new horizons, and in his bachelorhood in Boston at 333 Beacon Street, he learned to downhill ski, sail, and skydive. He became just the 492nd person in the United States to earn his parachuting license, and he spent countless weekends competing in amateur skydiving competitions across New England. During this time, he also began traveling internationally to explore European ski destinations.

At one memorable skydiving competition, he met Nancy "Nanlee" Brackin, whom he married in 1965. He and Nanlee settled in Marblehead, Massachusetts, where they raced their US 1 sailboat and crewed for friends. Jacque and Nanlee had two daughters, Lindsay and Nicole, whom they raised in Marblehead and Concord, Massachusetts. Jacque taught his daughters to cross-country ski as a more affordable winter sport than alpine skiing, and he was a co-founder of the Concord-Carlisle chapter of the Bill Koch Ski League, where he also was a coach.

Jacque had an engineering mind, but the heart of a romantic and the personality of an extroverted salesman. That is perhaps why he always held sales and marketing jobs at the engineering firms where he worked for much of his career. He was defined by his irrepressible smile and obvious zest for life. He looked for the good in all people.

Outside of work, Jacque loved singing and theater and became heavily involved with The Concord Players, a community theater group. Lindsay and Nicole fondly recall attending rehearsals and doing their homework by stage light. He also joined an a cappella group, the Two by Fours, relishing weekly rehearsals and annual participation in the "Spring Sing" festival, featuring singing groups from around the country. Music was a throughline in Jacque's life; on the day before he died, he enjoyed a quiet bedside concert by two wonderful Threshold choir singers.

In 1988, Jacque and Nanlee bought a small photo finishing business called Sixty Minute Photo. With three stores in Vermont and New Hampshire, they tackled the challenge of running a retail business far from Concord. But in true Jacque style, they soon had a vibrant community of friends in the Hanover, New Hampshire, and Woodstock, Vermont area. Jacque ran the business, while Nanlee contributed her photography and advertising expertise.

In 1995, Jacque and Nanlee were in a small plane crash in Norwich, Vermont; Nanlee died, and Jacque was badly injured. Because of the rural location near the Appalachian Trail, there was no nearby help. Jacque had the determination and love for his daughters to walk out of the woods and go house to house until he found help; he later said to them, "I did not want you to lose both of us that day."

When Jacque healed from his injuries, he retired and sought joy wherever he could. First, he learned to golf and spent many hours perfecting his game at the Concord Country Club. Later, he took up road biking and joined the Charles River Wheelmen for weekly group rides.

In his search for companionship, Jacque married Nan McSwan in 1999; they divorced three years later. He went on to marry Edith ("Edie") Baxter in November 2013. He and Edie enjoyed traveling, biking, and cooking. Together, they moved to Riverwoods, a continuing-care retirement community in Exeter, New Hampshire, in July 2019.

By far the biggest source of joy in Jacque's life was the arrival of grandchildren, starting in 1998. He loved nothing more than spending time with Leo, Neta, Lucy, Charlie, and Daniel during holiday gatherings, visits, the sidelines of their sporting events, or in the audience at their performances. He was fortunate to live near two of his grandchildren, and he never missed a home game or performance. Once his grandchildren were young adults, he reveled in sharing what they were up to and how they were making their mark. They were his singular pride.

As a proud Pennsylvanian, Jacque told stories to whoever would listen about having learned algebra in high school from John Updike's father, as well as the many surprising and favorite American products that are made either in Shillington, Reading, or Bethlehem (think Hershey's, Yuengling, Peeps, Utz, Snyders, and more!).

Favorite memories of Jacque are of him piloting his Boston Whaler to take his family on picnics at Brown's Island in Marblehead; doubles tennis games at the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead; choosing to be his own general contractor for the construction of the family home in Concord; his portrayal of Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls; nordic ski weekends with family friends in the Mt. Washington Valley; windsurfing Sesachacha Pond on Nantucket; family games of Nerts; biking the backroads of New England and international destinations; and always humming a tune.

Jacque's legacy is one of bravery, exploration, playfulness, curiosity, optimism, and joy. His love for his family was powerful and enduring, as was his love for his countless friends.

Jacque is survived by his two daughters, Lindsay Kafka and Nicole Rubin, their husbands, Steve and Rob, his grandchildren, Leo Brackin Kafka, Neta Brae Kafka, Daniel Rubin, Lucy ("Lulu") Nanlee Rubin, and Charles ("Charlie") Gray Rubin. He is also survived by his wife, Edie Baxter. Jacque was predeceased by his wife, Nanlee Brackin Smith, his brothers, Ethan and Dick, and his sister, Audrey.

Jacque's family is deeply grateful to the incredible health care workers and staff at Riverwoods, and to the hospice team from BILH At Home, for caring for him with love and dignity, not only in his last week of life, but throughout his years living at Riverwoods.

A virtual celebration of life will be held on March 15, 2026. If you wish to receive an invitation with the details, please email Lindsay and Nicole at jacqueandawe@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift in Jacque's honor to Riverwoods (a registered 501(c)(3)), or your own favorite non-profit organization. Or, if that's not your thing, just mix a gin and tonic or get yourself a soft-serve ice cream to enjoy, and think of Jacque!