Nancy Penny Smith-100 Years, 2 Months
Nancy passed away May 28th at Cottage Hospital with family at her side. She had been a resident of Santa Barbara for 75 years. She was sharp as a tack to the end, having won her weekly bridge game at Santa Barbara Yacht Club the week before.
Born in Ann Arbor Michigan to Henry and Doris Glazier where she and her one sister Henrietta were raised. Summers were spent in nearby Cavanaugh Lake in Chelsea Michigan where her grandfather, Frank Glazier, had built the Glazier Stove Company in the early 1900’s and was responsible for building the town as it is today.
Nancy and her sister both attended Mercy Nursing School in Detroit. As RN’s, the two partners in crime headed out west and found employment at Cottage hospital in 1950. That’s where Nancy met a darling young intern from Kansas named Dean Smith. They were married at Santa Barbara’s United Methodist Church in 1953. Off they went to Kentucky to fulfill Dean’s remaining military obligation, then New Orleans for his residency at Ochsner Hospital. Fortunately, Dean’s future partner in orthopedics Dr. Walter Graham recognized his talents and recruited him back to Santa Barbara.
They came back to Santa Barbara with two sons, Dean and David, and soon had two more boys, Don and Doug. Nancy and Dean raised the 4 D’s on Mira Vista St. up The Rivera. The Family activities evolved around water, Dean & Nancy had found the joys of sailing, and the boys swam competitively. They acquired a 36 ft. wood sloop “Hurulu” from Dean’s cousin in Santa Maria, Wayne Warner. They commenced loading the family on Hurulu and cruising the Channel Islands. Over 40 years there was Hurulu I, II, III & IV.
They joined Santa Barbara Yacht Club in 1965 and participated the planning and construction of the present clubhouse completed in 1969 and supported youth sailing. In addition to the extensive local Channel Islands cruising, they also undertook many international bareboat cruises in New Zealand, European cannels, multiple trips to the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
Nancy & Dean traveled extensively around the world. They attended numerous international professional meetings and always seemed to make a vacation out of the trip.
Nancy leaves behind three sons (and wives) David (Betsy), Donald (Valerie) and Douglas (Perry). Nancy’s husband Dean passed away in 2003, the oldest son Dean predeceased his mother. She had eleven grandchildren, Serena, Christian, Chad, Joel, David, Kyle, Derek, Hannah, Heather, Hayliegh, and Benjamin.
The family is holding a memorial service at the First United Methodist Church (Garden & Anapamu) where the family was active and all attend services over the years. Service is at 11:30 am with reception to follow. In Lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be made to the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation in Nancy and Dean’s honor.
