Harry Bernard Smith's Obituary
Harry Bernard Smith died peacefully on February 3, 2018 at age 91 with loving family at his bedside.
Born in Shamokin , Pennsylvania on August 18, 1926 to Fanny (Riga, Latvia) and Joseph (Warsaw, Poland). He was the beloved brother of Gertrude Hornstein and Samuel Smith, both of blessed memory. Harry lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania until age 15 when the family moved to Miami Beach. He entered Miami Beach Senior High School, then served in the Navy from 1944-1946. From there, he entered the University of Miami and it’s law school-through the GI bill and graduated with high honors. At the University of Miami, Harry was a founder and president of AEPi and later became the National President and a Supreme Master. He had been an avid Canes fan since attending the U of M - seventy years - and enjoyed dressing in his regalia.
David Lawrence once quoted Harry in the Miami Herald, "I hit a home run twice in a lifetime." First, Harry married Marilyn Krensky in 1956, and raised their family on Hibiscus Island, Miami Beach until her untimely death. He took much pride in developing and growing the Smith and Mandler law firm with partner Bernard Mandler and his brother Sam Smith. In 1984, he merged Smith and Mandler with Ruden McClosky. For 19 years, Harry was bestowed the honor of “Best Lawyers in America.” Respected not only as a lawyer but as a philanthropist, Harry was the President of the Miami Bar Association, President of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and National Vice President of the Council of Jewish Federations. A member of Temple Beth Shalom since its inception, he served on its Board of Directors. He was also on the Board of the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts and United Way of Dade County.
Harry married Joan Peven, of Detroit, 31 years ago, and he continued much of his philanthropic work. They moved to Coconut Grove where he loved to play weekend tennis with the "George Burns Warriors." He was a founding member of the Holocaust Memorial Committee of Miami Beach. Among many other Honors, he received an honorary degree from Hebrew Union College and the Silver Medallion of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He was inducted into the Miami Beach High School Hall of Fame.
Harry leaves behind his devoted wife of 31 years Joan Peven and his children: daughter LouAnn (Mark Lenetsky); Joey Smith (Lori Shapiro); David Smith (Jill Simons) and a legacy of eight beloved heart broken grandchildren: Matthew, Lissa, Jessica, Marisa, Ahava, Jed, Zachary, Jessica and Ali. Joan’s children, Dr. Debi Peven (Erin); David Peven (Julie Zivov) considered him a father to them.
We will miss his work ethic, integrity, philanthropy, patience and humility. No one can deny that Harry Bernard Smith was the consummate gentleman and always kind. He often said that a man/woman only has his or her reputation and this is the Legacy left behind.
Funeral: Temple Beth Sholom, Monday February 5, 2018 at 12:00pm - 4144 Chase, Miami Beach 33140
Burial: Mt. Nebo - 5505 NW 3rd Street - Miami 33126
Shiva: One Grove Isle Drive, Miami 33133 (Monday and Tuesday evenings)
Contributions can be made in Harry’s memory to:
Zachor Society of the Holocaust Memorial
% 4200 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33137
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