Wendy Ann Smith of Manchester-by-the Sea passed away peacefully on October 12 after a difficult pulmonary disease. During her time at the Kaplan Hospice House, she was continually surrounded by loving family and friends. She will forever be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit. Even towards the end of her life, she maintained an incredibly positive attitude and was a beloved patient to all that cared for her.
Wendy was born in Seattle, WA 1941, the first child of Stuart and Olive Yeaton. At a young age the family moved to Pennington, NJ where she grew up. She attended Miss Fine’s School (now Princeton Country Day) and then went west to the University of Colorado where she loved skiing and served as President of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Education in 1963.
During a holiday break from college and while studying at the Princeton University Firestone Library, she met Ralph Christian Smith, a student there. Ralph would become the love of her life for more than 60 years.
Their life together began after Ralph’s graduation from Princeton and his continuing studies at Harvard (MA) and Northwestern (MBA), and ultimately for three years in Bolivia. At every stop Wendy was involved in her teaching career, most enjoyably at the American Cooperative School in LaPaz as a first-grade teacher. By this time, they had their two special children, Carrie and Tim with them. While in Bolivia, she never missed an opportunity to expose her children to the life and culture they were living in.
Ending up back in the US, the family settled in Manchester-by-the Sea, MA where she began teaching at the Brookwood School. Her family had a short time living in Nashville, TN where she taught at the University School. Once again, Wendy delved into everything that Nashville had to offer exploring different parts of the state and getting to know local art and music. Three years later, the family returned to their home in Manchester where she once again taught third grade at Brookwood and later went on to become the beloved Head of the Lower School. Throughout her career she was loved and admired by students, teachers and parents.
A wife, mother, sister of many talents she most enjoyed gardening, having her lovely home filled with indoor and outdoor plants and flowers (even a ficus tree). She loved sailing and boating with family and all events at the Manchester Yacht Club, especially the marriages of her two children. Her knitting was legendary. Most recently, she became part of the Seaside Knitting group creating sweaters and blankets for those in need. During her spring vacations, she was also a pro on the fly rod for bonefish in the Yucatan with fishing friends.
Wendy was an accomplished pianist as well. After a teenage recital at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton she turned to bow only to see Albert Einstein in the audience applauding.... now family lore.
Wendy’s pride and joy was her family including each of her beloved dogs. After retirement, she was the daytime caregiver for her two grandchildren spending their days reading, exploring Ipswich, MA on foot, and attending playgroups. She celebrated 60 years of marriage this past August, her 83rd birthday in January with her entire family including her brother and sister visiting, and always looked forward to family celebrations and holidays together.
In addition to her husband Ralph, Wendy is survived by her children Tim Smith (Janet) and Carrie Woodruff (Tom) in Ipswich, MA; grandchildren Jack and Addie Woodruff; brother Tom Yeaton (Valerin) in Ireland; sister Joan Seamon (Hal) in Virginia and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations in Wendy’s memory may be directed to the Ipswich Public Library where she spent countless hours with her grandchildren exposing them to reading and classic children’s books and literature. Ipswich Public Library - Board of Trustees (George Gray)/Director (Nora Blake) 25 North Main Street Ipswich, MA 01938.
A Remembrance and Celebration of Wendy’s life will be held for family and friends on Saturday, October 26th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Manchester Yacht Club.
