Obituary of David K. Smith

David K. “Deke” Smith of Topsham, Maine, died Wednesday August 14, 2013 at the age of 77, following a brief battle with cancer. Deke was born in Rochester, NY to Doris King Smith and Gregory Smith on December 5, 1935. After a few years in Rochester, the Smiths moved to Marblehead, Mass. After graduating from Shore Country Day School in 1950, Phillips Exeter Academy in 1954, and Harvard College in 1958, he received an Ed.M from Harvard in 1963. At both Exeter and Harvard, Deke was an avid athlete, excelling in alpine skiing and mountaineering. While at Harvard, he was a member of the Fly Club. Deke began his career as a Math and Latin teacher at Groton School and then moved to Harvard, where he became Director of Admissions and Dean of Admissions at Radcliffe College in the years 1963-1970. Following his work in Admissions, Deke became the Assistant Director of the Committee of the Permanent Charity Fund, now known as the Boston Foundation. In 1977, he returned to Harvard as a Senior Development Officer; he was also the Director of the $6 million renovation project of the Indoor Athletic Building. In addition to his work in the Development Office, Deke was one of the founding coaches of the Harvard cycling team and an advisor to many students. In 1986, Deke left Harvard to become an educational consultant, operating out of both Cambridge, Mass. and Portland, Oregon. He worked in this capacity until shortly before his death. He married Nancy Bassett in 1960. Raising three daughters in Weston, MA, Deke and Nancy were avid sailors, skiers and cyclists, and Deke distinguished himself as an accomplished bike racer, winning the Masters Division of the District Time Trials in 1981 and placing second in 1984; he also competed in three National Championships. Deke often made his commute from Weston to Cambridge on his bike; while other commuters carried their briefcases in the elevator, Deke carried his front wheel. Deke and Nancy were early supporters of “Green Power,” a community garden in Weston for inner city residents. Deke was also instrumental in the creation and ongoing success of the Weston Sugar Shack, still operating at Weston Middle School. Sugar must have run in his blood; he once said that dinner without ice cream was like a day without sunshine! After his divorce from Nancy in 1991, Deke married Nancy Knocke of Portland, Oregon, in 1994 and moved to Portland where Nancy had lived for many years, creating Smith-Ed Consulting together. In Portland, Deke and Nancy were avid golfers and raised a very special black standard poodle named Mimi. Deke and Nancy moved back East in 2010, to Highland Green in Topsham, ME, where they enjoyed auditing classes at Bowdoin College, reconnecting with East Coast friends and family, and volunteering in the community. Deke is survived by his wife, Nancy Knocke Smith of Topsham, ME; his former wife, Nancy Bassett Smith of West Newton, MA, his daughters Deborah Smith of Southborough, MA, Lydia Starosta of Norwich, VT, and Holly Rosen of Venice, CA., his cousins Anthony Smith of New York, NY and Gael Smith Arnold of Washington, D.C. and six grandchildren. In addition, he leaves two step-daughters, Alison Forbes of Portsmouth, NH, Ashley Bowles of Edina, MN and five step-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Harvard University Cycling Association (payable to "President and Fellows of Harvard College"), atOffice of the Recording Secretary, Harvard University,124 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 1-800-VERITAS (Harvard Cycling in memo) http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/huca/donate/ The Permanent Fund for Boston, at 75 Arlington St., 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, 617-338-1700, http://www.tbf.org/giving/make-a-gift/permanent-fund-for-boston DoveLewisEmergency Animal Hospital at 1945 NW Pettygrove St., Portland, OR 97209, 503-228-7281, https://www.dovelewis.org/donate/form/ There will not be a public service at Deke’s request, but the immediate family will hold a private burial at the Waterside Cemetery in Marblehead, where his parents are buried. As a teacher, advisor, coach, husband and father, Deke Smith has left a profound mark on those who knew him, and his was a life of giving. Many have been touched by his selflessness, his wisdom, and his generosity.