Lakes Region Mourns Loss of Philanthropic Icon Robert F. Smith

Robert F. Smith, a philanthropic icon in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, passed away on August 7 at the age of 93.

Smith's business career spanned over four decades, during which he worked for General Electric and American Express, eventually becoming its president and CEO by January 1985. He retired from American Express in 1989 and moved to Gilford, where he lived his dream life on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Smith was a founding partner of Car Component Technology, the world's largest automobile front-wheel-drive axle manufacturer, and later shifted focus to the food industry with The Wine'ing Butcher and Sawyer’s Dairy Bar. He was also an integral part of Castle in the Clouds, where he connected the organization with the Sakowich Foundation.

Smith's philanthropic efforts extended far beyond his business ventures. He worked tirelessly for the Boys & Girls Club, helping them establish their home at the former St. James Episcopal Church in Laconia and creating a trust that has grown to over $2.5 million in benefitting local children.