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Frederick Smith, 75
We mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Frederick Smith—a great banker and mentor. Below is his obituary, published in the New York Times on August 16, 2017:
Frederick Middleton Rotan Smith, of Manhattan, passed away on August 11, 2017, at age 75, from complications related to heart disease. Fred was born in New York City, where he attended St. Bernard's School. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1959 and received a B.A. in History and Economics from Yale University in 1963. After serving in the U.S. Marines Corps, Fred was hired by First Boston Corporation in 1967 and remained at the firm, and its successor firm Credit Suisse, for the duration of his career, retiring in 2002. He remained a senior advisor and consultant to the firm for a number of years thereafter. At First Boston, Fred established and then headed the firm's media, transportation and telecommunications Investment Banking Coverage Group. He later founded and co-headed the firm's international private equity investment business. Fred was a devoted father, world traveler, and passionate golfer. A fierce competitor, he won three club championships at the Fishers Island Club and two at Deepdale Golf Club, where he also won five senior club championships. Fred is survived by his three children (Frederick M.R. Smith Jr., Margaret Smith Warden, and Charles Lister Smith), three grandchildren (Maxwell Wilson, Eloise August and Nicholas Hollingsworth Warden) and his beloved Alexa Gale Kroeger. A private funeral service will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA. A celebration of Fred's life will be held in New York City in September. Donations in Fred's honor can be made to Aperture Foundation, 547 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001 attn: Mary Colman St. John.
I came across Fred Smith when he was heading CSFB International Private Equity and he had a particular interest in global satellite mobile communications. A man of great charm, generosity, integrity and astuteness. An absolute gentleman. The epitome of an old school Wall Street investment banker. He subsequently assisted me with introductions to various of his contacts in Australia, a country for which he had great affection despite the unusual hazards of some of its golf courses! Unlike a present and former US President he would never dream of dodging the Draft but he confessed that he was glad to dodge the reptilian hazards by the water during his rounds of golf in Queensland. We shared a number of excellent lunches together during subsequent visits to New York and I had planned to look him up on my next trip when I read the sad news of his passing away. He must be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues. My heartfelt condolences go to them.