Obituaries

Richard Alan Smith- Boston has lost a captain of industry and a leading light in philanthropy. Richard Alan (Dick) Smith, born November 1, 1924 to Philip and Marion Smith, died peacefully in his Chestnut Hill home surrounded by family, on Wednesday, September 9th.

Richard was raised in Brookline, MA. He attended the Runkle School, Browne & Nichols School, and graduated from Harvard College in 1946 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in two and a half years as part of the naval program. Subsequently, he joined his father in the family business, Midwest Drive-in, later called General Drive-In. When his father died unexpectedly in 1961, Richard was thrust into the CEO role at the newly public company, which would be renamed General Cinema Corporation (GCC) in 1964. Richard guided the focus of the company toward movie theaters in shopping centers, which was then a novel idea. Under his leadership, General Cinema built the nation’s first shopping center theater in Framingham, Massachusetts. Sensing the opportunity, Richard built the company throughout the 60s and 70s into the nation’s largest chain of movie theaters, with over 400 locations and 1,200 screens.

In search of diversification from the theater business and having shed the company’s foray into fast food by the mid-1960s, Richard made a series of transformational investments, building what ultimately became three NYSE public companies: General Cinema Corp, the Neiman Marcus Group, and Harcourt General. His first important acquisition was in 1967, the American Beverage Corp. of Ohio. This Pepsi Cola bottling franchise became the cornerstone of 22 years acquiring and building the nation’s largest independent bottler of Pepsi, Dr Pepper and 7-Up, launching the Sunkist brand of soda along the way. In the 80s, in the spirit of further diversification, he led a series of significant investments in other public companies and ultimately acquired a position in Carter Hawley Hale. While profitably divesting his earlier stakes, it was the position in Carter Hawley Hale, acquired initially as a white knight in 1985, which was spun into the controlling interest in the newly created Neiman Marcus Group in 1987. After selling the beverage operations in the late 80s, Richard sought another large operating opportunity for his portfolio. In 1991, he acquired the Harcourt Brace Jovanovich publishing and information businesses.

Richard developed a well-deserved reputation for savvy timing and astute insight. He focused on strategy, acquisitions, and investments and led a talented team of executives. In the 90s, the holding company structure was split into three separate public companies. He then began a process to opportunistically take the family’s interests private. He proved to be an exceptional seller of businesses for record prices. The beverage business was sold in 1989, General Cinema in 2000, Harcourt in 2001, and Neiman’s in 2005. His record was extraordinary; he was recognized in the book “The Outsiders” for his exceptionalism. When he finally retired from active involvement in business, he said with a gleam in his eye, “we all just had so much fun.”

Richard was a leading figure in Boston philanthropy. As he stepped back from his active public company life, he concentrated more of his efforts on philanthropy. He was valued for his wisdom, acumen and mentorship as he served on several boards. Guided by a philosophy of engaged philanthropy, he led by example and gave generously of both his valuable time and financial capacity, leaving his community and family an extraordinary legacy. Among his proudest accomplishments is the gift he left to his children, grandchildren, and their families – the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation. Today, multiple generations work together on the foundation board, along with its professional staff, to guide the strategy and grant making of the foundation.

Richard was a lifelong believer in the power of biomedical research to transform the human condition. As an early supporter of Dr. Sidney Farber, he joined the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Board of Trustees in 1962. He would become a seminal leader in the Institute’s history as President and Chair of Dana-Farber’s board from 1973-1982. Along with his wife and partner in life Susan, he became Dana Farber’s largest individual donor. Additionally, he served on the Joslin Diabetes Center’s board from 2002 onward, the Beth Israel Hospital board as a Trustee and Honorary Trustee, and the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation. He was a significant supporter of leading institutions such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and early career biomedical researchers throughout New England.

Richard believed fervently in the importance of America’s leading universities and their unique role in the country and the world, and first among these was his alma mater Harvard University. He served as a Fellow of the Harvard Corporation from 1991-2000 and on the Board of the Harvard Management Company and the Board of Overseers for many years prior. The Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center opened in 2018 and is a testament to his dedication and decades of service to the University as a whole. He also was a trustee at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols, Beaver Country Day School and the Park School, and a supporter of Tufts University. He received honorary degrees from both Harvard and Boston College.

He gave generously to Jewish causes, chairing the CJP Board of Managers from 1989-1995 and serving as Vice Chair of Temple Israel in the early 70s. He joined the Facing History and Ourselves board in 1979, and chaired the organization from 1989-1995 as Facing History and Ourselves grew to national prominence.

He served on the Boston Symphony Orchestra board from 1972 until 1996, when he was made a Lifetime Trustee. In his later years he served on the board of Year-Up. While most of Richard’s civic leadership was in the not-for-profit sector, he also served on a few corporate boards, including as lead director for First National Bank of Boston from 1973-1982 and at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company from 1975-1997.

Richard is survived by his three children and spouses, Amy Smith Berylson and John Berylson, Robert A. Smith and Dana Smith, and Debra Smith Knez; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Berylson Block and Jonathan Block, James T. Berylson, Elizabeth Berylson Katz and Robert Katz, Jessica and Andrew Knez, Madeleine, Ryan, and Jackson Smith; six great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Zachary, and Alexander Block, Thomas, Sara, and William Katz; his sister Nancy Lurie Marks, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beautiful, devoted wife of 63 years, Susan Flax Smith in 2016 and son James A. Smith in 1970.

Lamb, Marilyn Greenfield of Sharon, MA, passed away of natural causes in her home on September 7, 2020. Beloved wife of Hyman Lamb. Dear daughter of the late Louis and Bertha Greenfield. Devoted mother of Paul Lamb and his wife Susan, and Marty Lamb and his wife Peri. Proud grandmother of Audrey, Joanna, Elissa, and Simma. Dear step great-grandmother of Evelyn Bertoson. Loving sister of Charlotte and Robert Abrahms, Dear aunt of Jill Sholes. Private services will be held at Sharon Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marilyn’s memory may be made to the Lamb-Ellowitz Scholar in Residence Endowment Fund at Temple Israel, 125 Pond St., Sharon, MA 02067.

Graveside services at Maple Hill Cemetery, 99 Canterbury Rd., Peabody, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shelley’s memory may be made to the MDS Foundation, 4573 South Broad St., Yardville, NJ, 08620.

Private graveside services will be held at Sharon Memorial Park. Full obit to follow.

Florence Gordon-of Manalapan, FL, formerly of Newton Centre, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2020, at the age of 91. Beloved wife of the late David Gordon. Devoted mother of Jim Gordon and his partner Denise Fahmie and the late Michael Gordon. Dear grandmother of Zac, Grace, and Mia Gordon. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. Dear sister of the late Iris Shapiro and Peter Guttman. Private graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to The West End House Boys and Girls Club, 105 Allston St., Allston, MA 02134.

Bert Levine, of Wayland, MA and Biddeford, ME, formerly of Bridgewater NJ, passed away peacefully at home on August 29th at the age of 79 years old. Bert was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a doting grandfather. He will be forever remembered for his integrity, generosity, and unfailing sense of humor, and he will be deeply missed by the family and friends he leaves behind.

Bert was born in Suffern, NY on May 18, 1941 to Charles and Ruth Levine. He attended New York Military Academy, Colgate University, and St. John’s Law School. His career began as an advance man and a legislative assistant to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. After law school, he worked on Capitol Hill in several positions, primarily as counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, working mainly on health policy, while he continued to enjoy working on political campaigns.

Bert later moved to New Jersey to join Johnson & Johnson as a lobbyist and eventually became the Vice President of Federal Government Relations. After twenty years working with J&J, he decided to change careers entirely, earned a PhD in political science from Rutgers University, and spent the next part of his life teaching at Rutgers, Colgate, Bucknell, and UPenn. He was the Charles Evans Hughes Fellow in Political Science Emeritus at Colgate University. He authored two books and several articles on lobbying and interest groups including “The Art of Lobbying: Building Trust and Selling Policy” which is still used in college classrooms today. Bert was seriously dyslexic so the fact that he earned both a JD and a PhD was nothing short of miraculous and an example of his great tenacity.

As a frequent blood donor (the literal poster boy for donations) at Johnson and Johnson, as the President of the Martinsville NJ Fire Department, as an active volunteer at the Green Door Behavioral Health Clinic in Washington DC, or traveling to Winnie, Texas to build houses for Habitat for Humanity, civic and charitable contribution and action was a central part of Bert’s life.  He was a man who always chose to do the right thing.

But far more important to Bert than all of his professional and civic accomplishments was his family. He was a deeply loving man who was most happy when he was holding his wife’s hand, watching baseball with his son, talking with his daughter, sharing a meal with his friends, and reading to his grandkids (or “falling” into the swimming pool for their amusement). The love Bert gave will never die.

Bert is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shelly Brown Levine, his daughter and son-in-law Robin and Matt Freeman of Wayland MA, his son and daughter-in-law Michael and Ebony Levine of Houston TX, his five grandchildren: Sawyer, Colby, and Wesley Freeman; and P.J. and Payton Levine, and his beloved Golden Retriever, Junior.

Services will be private. Contributions can be made in Bert’s memory to the Malcolm Isaac Freeman Endowed Scholarship at Colgate University, Hamilton NY https://alumni.colgate.edu/makeagift

Marcia of Framingham, suddenly, on August 27, 2020. Beloved wife of Richard D. Wantman. Devoted mother of Michael of Brookline. Loving sister of Ina Beth Tamir. Also survived by several nieces and nephews and her beloved dog Cole.  A private Graveside Service will be held at Crawford Street Memorial Park. Remembrances in memory of Marcia may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society @ nationalmssociety.org.

Mary Ann Hickey-Of Holliston, on August 19, 2020. Beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Rosalie Hickey. Devoted mother of Laura Falcon. Private graveside services on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

Lloyd I. Turin-Of Framingham,MA,on August 24, 2020. Beloved son of the late Herbert and Eleanor Turin. Dear brother of Peter and Robin. Graveside services are private. Memorial observance at the home of Robin Turin through August 31, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lloyd’s memory may be made to L’Arche Boston North, 53 Wingate St., Haverhill, MA 01832.

Irma  Vanderpool- 78, of Annapolis MD, formerly of Charlestown, MA, passed away on August 23, 2020 with her daughter by her side. She was born on October 22, 1941, to the late Jacob and Mary Castleman. She graduated from Milton High School and received a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University. She is survived by her daughter Alyssa, son in law Bryan, grandchildren Emalyn and Dylan, brother Howard, nephews Bradley and Brian, and cousin Nancy. Irma dedicated 32 years of service as a Recreation Therapist at the Chelsea Soldiers Home ensuring that the veterans residing there had enriching activities and events to enjoy with their families and the community. In her retirement, Irma was an active member of several social, volunteer, and spiritual organizations. She enjoyed her time assisting with organizing events for the Friends of the Charlestown Library and was an active member of The Sisterhood for Temple Emmanuel. She was an avid animal lover and throughout her life adopted, fostered, and rescued many cats and dogs. Her passions included staying up to date on current events and finding a great sale. Her greatest happiness in life was having the opportunity to spend these last few years close to her daughter and grandchildren. She took such joy in watching her grandchildren grow and discovering their individual personalities. She and Emalyn were especially close sharing a love of clothes, jewelry, and arts. They spent wonderful quality time together and truly shared a deep and loving bond. A small private service will be held this Friday at 10 a.m. at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon, MA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Angell Memorial animal hospital in Boston, MA and Temple Emmanuel in Chelsea, MA.