In Memoriam: Norine Smith

Ms. Smith, whose years of service to the University spanned from 1979-1996, held a number of administrative positions prior to her retirement at age 70.

At the Carroll School, Ms. Smith worked in the Management Center as supervisor of management seminars and later joined the Undergraduate Associate Dean's Office. During the renovation of Fulton Hall from 1993-1995, when CSOM offices temporarily moved to other locations across campus, Ms. Smith staffed the Higgins Hall suite in which faculty members held office hours. Prior to joining the Carroll School, she worked at the Center for Women in Politics and Government on Newton Campus.

According to her daughter Tracy Downing, Ms. Smith “absolutely loved her time at BC and working with [former Carroll School Dean] Jack Neuhauser, [Management Center Director] John McKiernan and Nancy Samya,” then the dean’s office administrative secretary and now Office of University Advancement assistant director of school development initiatives.

“My mom loved working with her work-study students; some remained in contact with her throughout their adult lives with visits, telling Mom about their marriages and births of their children. She loved hearing from all of them,” added Downing, who is an English Department administrative assistant.

“Norine was a wonderful person and friend to so many around campus,” said Samya, who with Neuhauser visited Ms. Smith last fall, and “cherished that moment of remembering and storytelling.

“She loved working with students and always had a kind word for whoever crossed her path,” Samya added. “She loved writing personal notes and had a real gift for language. Her warmth and genuine kindness were never lost on her friends, nor was her sense of humor. She could tell a story that would have you laughing still years later.”

At age 60, Ms. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from what was then the Evening College, now the Woods College of Advancing Studies.

 “She was extremely proud of this accomplishment as we all were; my mom was the ultimate role model and my best friend,” said Downing. “Anyone who met her would describe her as kind, warm, classy, and elegant. She had a wonderful sense of humor, but always remained down to earth.”

Though Downing began working at BC in 1993 during her mother’s tenure, their paths didn’t cross on the Heights. Downing began as part of the BC Temp Pool and worked at Weston Observatory; she joined the English Department in 2005.

“Her family was most precious to her,” Samya recalled. “She adored and was adored by her children and grandchildren.”

In addition to Downing, Ms. Smith is survived by her daughter Donna Lawson; sons Brian, Doug, and Barry; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; her sister Patricia Foley, and brother James Coyle. She was predeceased by her sister Marion Gelineau.

Services were private. A celebration of Ms. Smith’s life will be held at a later date.

University Communications | June 2020