When our dad chose to go onto hospice in late October of 2020, this is what he shared: "It feels like I'm preparing to go on a trip. Sometimes I look up at the sky at night and though I can't see well, I can still see a few really bright stars. I look at them and think about all the people who have gone before me and I am not afraid." ~ Bill Smart

Bill Smart  08/17/1926 - 12/5/2020

Paul William Smart, (Bill, Billy), 94 years old, of Southport Indiana, passed away at home on December 5th in Pompano Beach Florida. 08/17/1926 - 12/5/2020

Bill was born on August 17, 1926 at the Smart Farm on McFarland Road in Southport, Indiana, to Jeannette May Brown and George William Smart, Jr. His sister Georgia (8) welcomed him, and his younger sister Barbara Joanne (Bobbie) was born in 1927. 

He graduated from Southport high school in 1944 and served in the U.S. Navy as Seaman First Class at the Naval Air Station in Seattle Washington from 1944 to 1946. He attended Butler University 1946-47 and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science, Design in 1952. As a student he interned with Eli Lilly. He spent his first year after graduation as the Assistant Executive Secretary at the Sigma Chi Fraternity International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.

He worked in New York City as Designer and Assistant Account Executive with Sudler and Hennessey, and L.W. Frohlich 1953-1957.

During the years of 1957, he was an Ordained Fraternal Worker Missionary with the Presbyterian Church in Brazil, South America. In 1964 he graduated from the Yale University Graphic Design Program, School of Art and Architecture as Master of Fine Arts.

Between 1964 -1969 he was the Art Director in the International Book Division at McGraw Hill Book Corporation in NYC. From 1969- 1973 he was Art Director of the Donald Art Company in Portchester, New York and the Account Executive and Production Manager at Stuart Williams Associates in Stanford, Connecticut.

In 1973 he returned to his beloved New York City and until 1978 was the Vice President of Public Relations and Fundraising of the Franklin International Book Program, the Executive Director of the West Side Association of Commerce, and the Publisher of  the Manhattan Business Journal.

During 1978 to 1994 he lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was the Executive Director of the newly-formed University of Cincinnati Foundation, the Director of Development of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, founded Smart Williams Associates Advertising Agency and Art Gallery, renovated old homes in historic downtown Cincinnati, was an extra in over 10 movies, and was the Executive Director of the Cincinnati Sister Cities Program.

He married Diane Greer Williams Smart in 1979 and they enjoyed several years working together on downtown Cincinnati community development projects.

From 1994 until his death in December 2020, he lived with Diane in Fort Lauderdale and Washington, DC. He continued to work until his full retirement in 2008 at the age of 82, as the Account Representative of a Brazilian Wine Company, and at Baird Case Jordan Fannin Funeral Home.

He was a life-long active member and Elder of the Presbyterian Church and Sigma Chi Fraternity. His civic awards and recognitions are too many to list here.

He is survived by his first wife, Nancy Carolyn Johns, daughter Anita Smart and son-in-law Manuel Oca, daughter Silvia Smart and son-in-law Jeff Denson, and grandchildren Emilia Smart-Denson and Henry Smart-Denson.

His wife, Diane Greer Williams Smart, continues to live in Pompano Beach, Florida. He is also survived by his stepfamily: son John and daughter-in-law Meg, daughter Lauren and son-in-law Mark, and daughter Charlene and son-in-law Bob. His stepfamily includes granddaughters Hannah and Delaney, grandsons Chris and Rob and Rob’s husband Alex, and great-grandchildren Christian, Joshua, Ayanna and Omari. 

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in honor of Bill Smart to the following:

1. Westminster Church of Washington, DC (westminsterdc.org)
   1. Brian Hamilton and Rev. Ruth Hamilton.
2. Church by the Sea, Fort Lauderdale, FL (thechurchbythesea.org)
   1. Chris Reny
3. Sigma Chi Scholarship Fund (sigmachi.org/foundation/scholarships/)
   1. Lifelong member and President of alumni chapters in different cities
4. Natik Esperanza, 501©(3) Nonprofit. (natik.org)
   1. Anita Smart, Executive Director, Bill’s daughter