MALCOLM SMITH

1923 - 2022

SMITH--Malcolm. 1923-2022. Malcolm Smith died August 16, 2022, at age 99. He was born in Lynn, MA, the son of Philip and Ida Smith. He attended Boston Latin School, and graduated Dartmouth College summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. From 1943-46 he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps working on the Japanese naval code. He received an MA in Economics from Harvard in 1948, then decided against an academic career. He joined the staff of General American Investors Company in 1948, and spent his entire business career there. He became President in 1959 and retired in 1988. During his business career and retirement years he was a trustee for many organizations: the New School (on the board for 40 years, chair for 10, awarded an honorary degree), Human Rights Watch, John Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa Fellows, New York Foundation, Century Association, and Harvard Club of New York. He was a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. International travel with an art history focus was a major interest of Malcolm and his wife, Betty. They travelled the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, often with their family. Highlights include crossing a lake in Myanmar, the only lights the flashlight of the canoe's paddler, the only sounds the chanting from a monastery, and riding through the mountains of Tibet in a truck. Malcolm remained an avid tennis player into his mid-80s. He skied nationally and internationally, often with his two sons. He loved symphonic and chamber music, subscribing to the New York Philharmonic for 50+ years. Malcolm is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years, Betty, sons Eric Smith (Mary Kancewick) and Dan Smith (Flor Diaz Smith), and grandchildren Matthew Smith (Paula Alvarez), David Smith (Melissa Nix), Sijo Smith (Mark Ferguson), and Mia and Lincoln Smith. His brother Marshall died earlier in 2022. The family will hold a private memorial service. Donations in his honor may be made to the New School for Social Research (Graduate Faculty).