LIZ SMITH

SMITH--Liz.

New York columnist and humanitarian Liz Smith, 94, died at home in New York of natural causes November 12, 2017 surrounded by loved ones. Mary Elizabeth Smith was born on February 2, 1923 in Fort Worth, Texas. She often said that one of her greatest childhood pleasures was sneaking into a neighbor's house, while the other kids played outside, to read the family's "New Yorker" magazines. She married her high school sweetheart, George Edward Beeman, a World War II bombardier in 1945; divorcing him two years later and enrolling in the University of Texas. After graduating, she boarded a train for New York City. Her dream was to write. She came to New York with one suitcase, an infectious laugh, a big smile and an unbeatable work ethic. Liz also brought with her a degree in journalism and an ability to type 80 words a minute. She quickly got work as a typist and proofreader and soon became a producer for Mike Wallace who then was a reporter on CBS Radio. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. By the late 50s she began working as a ghostwriter of the popular "Cholly Knickerbocker" column. By the 60s she was off to "Cosmopolitan" magazine where she worked as the entertainment editor for Helen Gurley Brown launching another 50 year friendship. She simultaneously worked for "Sports Illustrated" and wrote the cover story for the first ever swim suit issue. But it was her eponymous gossip column that brought her fame. First launched in February of 1976 in the New York Daily News. During the newspaper strike her editors asked her to appear daily on WNBC-TV's Live at Five. She continued on Live at Five for the next eleven years. Smith was very proud of the local Emmy she won for her reporting in 1985. Over the years she was honored with dozens of accolades. She was named a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, won the Matrix Award for exceptional achievements in journalism and was named to "Vanity Fair's" Hall of Fame. When she turned 90 she was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for the pages of "Vanity Fair" posing on a stallion in Times Square. Her old friend Nora Ephron wrote the accompanying tribute. Over the years Smith became as famous as many of the people she wrote about and soon her column was syndicated in nearly seventy newspapers around the country. After her reporting on the divorce of Donald and Ivana Trump made front page news around the world she signed a deal with Newsday which made her the highest paid columnist in the country. Smith often said of gossip that it was "news running ahead of itself in a red satin dress." She was interested in far more than the peccadilloes of the rich and famous. She wrote about books, movies and the theatre with a depth of understanding and appreciation. Preferring to find the good, if she could, in the work of writers and actors. Her legions of friends and admirers grew. By 2005 she had left "Newsday" for the "New York Post" where her column ran until 2009. The Liz Smith column was subsequently published online in the New York Social Diary where she shared her by-line with her longtime collaborator and friend, Denis Ferrara until her death. While she loved writing the column and became friends with many of the greatest stars of the era because of it, her passion became her work helping others. Forty years ago she was horrified to learn that 750,000 of her fellow New Yorkers couldn't read or write at the fifth grade level and she vowed to do something about it. She used her considerable influence and her very large rolodex (it was actually five rolodexs!) to good use. Over the years she raised an astonishing $37 million dollars for Literacy Partners which enabled more than 27,000 adults to experience the wonders of reading. The "Lizzie Fund" provides an endowment for the organization. It wasn't just literacy she supported. She raised millions of dollars to help fight AIDS. She also worked tirelessly for the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Police Athletic League, Maria Droste Counseling Services, Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project and the Mayor's Fund, while Michael Bloomberg was Mayor. Linda Buckley and Anita Hall worked with her on many of these efforts which she continued into her 90s. "She was a witty and charming host for many of them -- loyally reprising that role year after year. And if all that wasn't enough, she raised awareness for countless good clauses by writing about them." She also wrote many books including "Dishing," her humorous book about gossip and food (Fried Snickers, anyone?) and her autobiography, "Natural Blonde" was on the New York Times best-seller's list for many months. Anthony Tassi, the Executive Director of Literacy Partners said of her, "To some, Liz is the most important gossip columnist of her generation. To thousands of disadvantaged New Yorkers, Liz Smith is the patron saint of a better life." She is survived by a large group of loving nieces and nephews mostly residing in Texas, niece: Karen Smith Williamson, Austin, TX, nephew: Sloan Stephen Smith, Boerne, TX, niece: Roxanna Elizabeth Chapman, San Antonio, TX, nephew: Bryson McCall Smith, Austin, TX, great-nephew: Witt McCall Featherston, Austin, TX, great-nephew: William Matthew Featherston, Seoul, South Korea, great-niece: April Hayden Rose, Boerne, TX, great-niece: Sarah Elise Chapman, Chicago, IL, great-niece: Elizabeth Jay Burgin, Aubrey, TX, great-niece: Blossom Brett Bennett, Austin TX, great-nephew: Arak James Avakian, Brooklyn, NY, great-niece: Alyssa Katherine Hulsebusch, Boerne, TX, great-nephew: Hayden Thomas Rose, Boerne, TX, great-great-nephew: Hayes McCall Featherston, Austin, TX, great-great-niece: Addison Malissa Rose, Boerne, TX. A memorial service will be held to honor her in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in her memory to the "Lizzie Fund" at Literacy Partners, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 1102 NY, NY 10038.