The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr.,"died peacefully with his beloved wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side," his family wrote in an obituary.
"Walt is remembered as the ultimate connector. His gregariousness and natural ability to find a common bond with others nourished him and created an enormous community of friends and colleagues," the obituary read."Until recently, he spent weekends at the Smithe showrooms, engaging with associates and clients. Walt volunteered for many years with Habitat for Humanity, traveling to the US and Central America to help build houses, often under difficult conditions.
His family said he began his career in the family furniture business in 1967 after time in the Army and jobs with General Electric and IBM.