Kathleen B. Smith of Coral Gables, Florida, died on Friday, September 7, 2012 at University of Miami Hospital after a four-year battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma and MDS. She was 57.
KB, as she was affectionately known, was born in Staten Island, N.Y., the daughter of Philip and Eileen Brown. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, Brussels, Belgium, Convent Station, N.J., and Oak Bluffs. She attended the University of Salamanca in Spain and graduated from Springfield College in Springfield.
She spent her entire career with Marsh & McLennan Companies in New York and Miami. Most recently she was a Managing Director and Latin American Regional Head of Placement and Marketing and Communications for Marsh Inc.
Kathleen is survived by her husband of 31 years, Stephen L. Smith, and her children, Stephanie and Timothy; her mother; and her sisters, Suzanne, Lisa, and Victoria and brothers, Barry and PJ, their spouses and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in KB’s name to The American Cancer Society (cancer.org); The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (P.O. Box 01690 (R-100), Miami, FL 33136Memo: Tribute to Kathleen B. Smith); or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Attn: Light the Night/Kathleen Smith Memorial, 2 Oakwood Blvd. Suite 200, Hollywood, FL 33020 lightthenight.org).
The family also asks that all who can, register to become a bone marrow donor by registering with the National Marrow Donor Program, marrow.org.
A celebration of KB’s life is planned for October 20, 2012 at 10:30 am at St. Thomas Episcopal Parish in Coral Gables, Florida. The family has entrusted her care to Van Orsaldel Funeral Home, Kendal Chapel, 1120 North Kendal Drive, Miami, FL 33176 (305-279-6644).
