Charles Smith (developer)

Charles Emil Smith (né Schmidoff; March 28, 1901 – December 30, 1995)[1][2] was a real estate developer and philanthropist in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Charles E. Smith
Born
Schmidoff

(1901-03-28)March 28, 1901
DiedDecember 30, 1995(1995-12-30) (aged 94)
Educationdegree in accounting
Alma materCity College of New York
Occupation(s)builder, real estate developer, philanthropist
Years activein business until 1967; philanthropist thereafter
OrganizationCharles E. Smith Companies
Board member ofGeorge Washington University trustee 1967–1976
Spouse(s)Leah Goldstein (m. 1927–death 1972)
Miriam Uretz Smith
(div. 1988)
ChildrenArlene Kogod, Robert H. Smith
RelativesRobert Kogod (son-in-law)
David Bruce Smith (grandson)
Awardshonorary doctorates from:
Notes

Biography

Smith (born Schmidoff),[1] was born in Lipnick, Russian Empire on March 28, 1901[2] to an Orthodox[4] Jewish family in Russia, the son of Sadie and Reuven Schmidoff.[5][6] He immigrated to Brownsville, Brooklyn[7] in 1911 speaking only Yiddish upon his arrival.[1] He started as a developer in Brooklyn, but lost everything in the Great Depression.[8]

He moved to Rockville, MD where he first developed apartments and later office buildings. He founded the Charles E. Smith Co. and developed the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia. He retired in 1967 and turned to philanthropy.[1]

Philanthropy

He planned a complex in Rockville for Jewish agencies including the Hebrew Home for the Aged, the Jewish Social Service Agency and the Jewish Community Center. He was a trustee of George Washington University (GWU) from 1967 to 1976 as well as Chairman of the Committee on University Development. The Charles E. Smith Athletic Center at George Washington University is named in his honor.[9] He played a key role in developing GW's branch campus in Loudoun County, Virginia.

His contributions to Jewish philanthropy include:

Smith held honorary doctorates from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Jewish Theological Seminary and George Washington University.[1] In 1997 he was posthumously awarded an Honor Award from the National Building Museum alongside other community developers of Washington, D.C., including Morris Cafritz and Charles A. Horsky.[13]

Personal life

Smith married twice. His first wife was Leah Goldstein of Yonkers whom he married on February 8, 1927;[14] they had two children, Robert H. Smith and Arlene Smith Kogod (married to Robert P. Kogod). Leah died in 1972.[15] His second wife was Miriam Schuman Uretz Smith.[16]

References

  1. Weil, Martin (January 1, 1996). "Washington Builder, Philanthropist Charles E. Smith Dies" (PDF). The Washington Post. p. A1.
  2. Smith, David Bruce (2000). Conversations with Papa Charlie: A Memory of Charles E. Smith. Capital Books, Inc. p. xiv. ISBN 978-1-892123-34-3. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  3. "George Washington University Official Athletic Site – Athletics". August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved 2013-01-20. Smith Center at George Washington University
  4. Smith, p. 16
  5. Smith, p. 7
  6. Shapiro, Edward S. (1995). A Time for Healing: American Jewry since World War II. JHU Press. p. 120. ISBN 9780801851247.
  7. Smith, p. 9
  8. Smith, p. 13
  9. "Smith and Kogod families commit $10 million for transformational renovation of Charles E. Smith Center". February 14, 2008. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  10. "Smith Elkes Laboratory". Jerusalem: The National Institute for Psychobiology. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  11. "Founders and Patrons – Mr. Charles E. Smith". Jerusalem: The National Institute for Psychobiology. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  12. "Judaic Studies at GW". Judaic Studies Program – The George Washington University. Retrieved 2013-01-20. ...establishment of the Charles E. Smith Chair in Judaic Studies in 1979...
  13. "Va. Trust Hopes to Buy Battlefield; Down Payment Applied To Chancellorsville Site". The Washington Post. 1997-11-13.
  14. Smith, p. 19
  15. Smith, p. 95
  16. "Miriam H. Smith "Micki"". The Washington Post. November 6, 2014.

Writings

  • Smith, Charles E.; David Bruce Smith; Peter Muller (1985). Building My Life. Washington, D. C.?: C.E. Smith. ISBN 9780985047719. LCCN 86463574. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  • Smith, Charles E.; David Bruce Smith (1998). Building the Community: Memorable Events in my Life. Washington D.C.: C.E. Smith. LCCN 97181010.
  • Smith, Charles E.; David Bruce Smith (c. 1993). Letters to my Children. LCCN 93204323.

Further reading

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