David W. Smith

FALMOUTH – David W. Smith, 86, gently passed away Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 6:08 a.m. The last several years he endured a series of compounding health issues and we are grateful to Dr. Robert Fulton of Maine Medical Partners for excellent care.

David was born in New York City, the only child of Dr. David and Lila Dobson Smith. Graduating from St. Ignatius Loyola School in New York, David attended the University of Pennsylvania and received his law degree from Fordham University. His legal career began with the Securities and Exchange Commission and then he joined the Bureau of Franchises with the City of New York just as cable television was coming on the scene. Cable television remained a major focus and he got tremendous enjoyment from working with Charles Dolan who founded Cablevision. He spent the last 20 years of his career with the New York State Department of Health Office of Professional Medical Conduct.

David also was a deeply committed community volunteer. He chaired the New York City Health Systems Agency and the New York State Health Coordinating Council. He was board chair of Barrier Free Living, one of the first emergency shelters for victims of domestic violence with disabilities. David was a longtime member and chair of the board of the Community Service Society, one of the oldest social welfare action and policy organizations in the country.

In 2007 we moved to Falmouth, Maine having spent many summers in Deer Isle. David jumped right in to community life becoming a member of the Board of Community Counseling that eventually became part of Maine Behavioral Healthcare on whose board he served until his death. He also became involved with the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging; first as a presenter of Medicare “birthday” clinics and then as a member and chair of the Board. David also was a member of Portland Rotary.

In his early twenties David converted to Catholicism and his faith was extremely important to him. He served on the parish council of St. Ignatius in New York and Holy Martyrs in Falmouth. He felt deeply that going to Mass was his opportunity to talk with God.

Family rounded out his life. He is survived by his deeply beloved wife, Anne Dalton; his loving children: Winston Spencer Smith, Chantal (Brad) Smith Carroll and Gregory (Kristin Ann) Townsend Smith; his adored grandchildren, Isabel David and Daphne Eldridge Carroll and Jack Dylan, Colin Ryan, and Alexandra Elyse Smith; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Douglas and Deborah Dalton.

Visiting hours celebrating David’s life will be held on Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 4-7 p.m., at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m., on Friday, May 14, 2021, followed by a 10 a.m., Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth, Maine, 04105. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yarmouth, Maine. To view David’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to: Maine

Behavioral Healthcare,

Attn: Cornell Stinson

78 Atlantic Place,

South Portland, ME 04106, https://26825.thankyou4caring.org/mbh-philanthropy or Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging (SMAAA), Sam L. Cohen Center, 30 Barra Road, Biddeford, ME 04005, http://www.smaaa.org/giving.




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