(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The name behind a local furniture powerhouse has died.
Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement.
The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. He began working in the nascent computer industry for IBM and General Electric before rejoining the family furniture business in 1967.
In the 1970s, he branched out on his own. Walter E. Smithe's brand was a pioneer in the field of custom-designed furniture. The business remains family-owned and -operated to this day.
Smithe received a graduate degree in anthropology from Loyola University and was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
“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. Until recently, he spent weekends at the Smithe showrooms, engaging with associates and clients,” the family said.
Smithe is survived by his wife of 64 years, Florence; seven children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.
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