By Lookout Staff
January 5 -- A memorial service for Clyde Smith,
an outspoken community activist and local African American
leader, will be held on Saturday. Smith, who long fought
to increase services for the Pico Neighborhood, died Thursday
after a brief illness.
As executive director of the now defunct Neighborhood Redevelopment
Corporation (NRDC), Smith helped rehab hundreds of housing
units for the elderly and low-income families in Santa Monica.
He also served in many Santa Monica service organizations,
including the Rotary Club, the Red Cross, the Pico Neighborhood
Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Monica
College Advisory Board. At the time of his death, he was
chairman of the Salvation Army Corps.
“Clyde will be remembered and missed as the ‘village
wise man,’ who generously shared his counsel, good
advice and loving support with all, young and old, who were
troubled in spirit or needed to be pointed in the right
direction,” said former mayor Nat Trives, a longtime
friend and colleague.
“He gave unselfishly of his time and efforts to make
our world a better place.” |
Along with Trives, Smith co-founded the Martin Luther King (MLK) Westside Coalition.
Smith, who served in the U.S Marine Corps in the Vietnam
War, was also an avid singer.
“He loved music and loved to sing,” Trives said.
“He faithfully attended the Playboy Jazz Festival in
Hollywood each year. He was a church leader and an exemplary
family man.”
Smith was president of the Dave Weston Singers, a local Gospel
ensemble that performs at civic and religious engagements
both locally and across the state.
Smith is survived by his wife of 38 years, Rosemary and their
son, Sean (daughter-in-law Elizabeth) and 7 grandchildren,
4 of which are Sean & Elizabeth’s. Their only daughter,
Sterling Tisha, died last year.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11
a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at First United Methodist
Church, 1008 11th Street. A repast following the service will
be in Simkins Hall located in the Shelby Center adjacent to
the sanctuary.
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, a contribution
be made to the Santa Monica Chapter of the Salvation Army in
memory of Clyde Smith. |
