Anne B. Smith

1936 - 2025

Anne Berkley Smith aged 88 of Chevy Chase, Maryland passed away on January 30, 2025 surrounded by loving family and her long-term caregivers.

Anne was born on July 24, 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri to Edgar and Rheta Berkley. Anne was raised in Kansas City until she moved to Washington, DC for college.

Anne inherited her love of art museums, education, and sense of philanthropy from her mother, Rheta Berkely Sosland, who was a cultural and philanthropic leader in Kansas City for her entire life. Anne grew up with the arts. Her parents were enthusiastic lovers of art and started collecting American artists works in the 1940's.

Anne attended Mount Vernon College (now George Washington University) and received an Associate of Arts degree in 1956 after serving as president of the senior class. Anne was an active alum. She was president of the Alumnae Association and served as chair of the Board of Trustees. Anne was awarded by the college the Distinguished Alumna Award in 1977 and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters in 1998. Over the years, her generosity to the Mount Vernon campus has supported the Mount Vernon Tennis Classic, the Celebration of Women in Politics and Journalism, the Eckles Library, the John Nevius and Lillie Webb memorial funds and several other funds to benefit her ala mater. Anne was awarded the Elizabeth Somers Alumnae Leadership Award from George Washington University.

In 1984 Anne married Harold Smith in who predeceased her in 2010. Anne spent much of her life in Palm Beach, Florida. Where her lifelong love of the arts drew her to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. She was an avid volunteer for over twenty years and spearheaded a three-year, $35 million fundraising campaign to expand the museum into a world-class cultural institution. Anne served as president of the Board of Trustees for the Norton for three years and chaired the museum's Millennium Campaign. Along with her husband Harold Smith, she generously endowed the position of the Norton Museum's "Harold and Anne Berkley Smith Curator of American Art". Anne donated significant funds for a gallery on the first floor of the Nessel Wing of the museum. As President of the Norton's Board of Trustees, Anne also led the museum to its recognition as the 2003 Providencia Award winner for contributions to the Palm Beach County's economy through the tourism industry. Anne donated to the Norton important paintngs by Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud.

Anne is survived by her sister Jean Baum; her three sons, Robert Hyman (Deborah Atwood), John Hyman (Kalin Hyman) and Andrew Hyman (Melissa Hyman); four grandchildren Tucker Hyman (Kaeley), Montana Hyman, Dylan Hyman, Ryan Hyman and two great grandchildren Berkeley Rose Hyman and Willa Elizabeth Hyman.

A private grave side ceremony will be held on Sunday February 2, 2025. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held in the Spring of 2025.

Donations in her honor may be made to The Norton Museum of Art (www.Norton.org) Society of the Four Arts (www.fourarts.org) and The Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org)