David Smith

SMITH--David L., died on March 14, after a year of declining health. Visionary leader, president and chairman of the board for over 20 years of Penn South, where he led the successful fight to maintain it as a limited equity housing cooperative in Chelsea, and thus maintain it as affordable housing, one of the last of its kind. He was the innovator behind the building of the cogeneration plant, helped organize a senior center, promoted a naturally occurring retirement community within the complex, and was instrumental in organizing the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, a meeting ground for cooperative housing leaders citywide. He fought against racial discrimination in housing in Stuyvesent Town in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Was active in the nation's cooperative movement for which he was inducted to the National Cooperative Business Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and honored by the National Association of Housing Cooperatives in 2008. Devoted husband for 56 years to Esther Smith who died in 2001, he is survived by his two daughters, Karen and Abby Smith, his son-in-law Maarten de Kadt his grandchildren Jesse Campoamor and Sonja de Kadt, sister-in-law Elleanor Tilson and the Tilson family and his companion from 2002 to his death, Tess Sacher. Dave spent his entire life fighting for social justice. He was an innovator, a leader and a kind and generous man. He will be greatly missed. A memorial to be held on Saturday, May 9, from 3:30 to 5:30pm at the Haft Auditorium at Fashion Institute of Technology, on 27 Street near 7th Avenue.