Philanthropist Robert F. Smith Dies at 93: A Life of Giving Back

Robert F. Smith, an international banker and philanthropist, passed away peacefully at his Lake Winnipesaukee home on August 7, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Smith was born in Staten Island, New York, to Norman and Lida Martin Smith, but moved to East Chelmsford, Massachusetts, at the age of three. He grew up during the Great Depression and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1950.

After graduating, Smith worked at Pease Motor Company in Lowell, where he earned enough money to travel to Florida with a friend for automobile racing. However, his racing career was short-lived as he wrecked his car and returned to Pease Motor Company. He later enrolled at Bentley University, then known as the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, and graduated at the top of his class in 1953.

Smith's corporate career spanned over three decades, with stints at General Electric and American Express. He held various leadership positions, including Treasurer of General Electric Corporation and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express Bank Ltd.