by Tom Lambeth
Editor's Note: Zachary Smith II, past President of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, prominent North Carolina philanthropist, and a very good friend of the National Center passed away last month. Tom Lambeth, himself a past president of the foundation and a founding National Center board member, delivered an eloquent eulogy which he kindly consented to share with us and with you to celebrate the life of a truly generous, humorous, and creative gentleman.
How does one catch the essence of such a special person in
a few brief minutes? How does one explain the personification of true gentleman,
of thoughtful friend, of caring relative, of patriotic citizen, of humble and
creative philanthropist?
Well when doing it about one for whom simplicity and brevity were virtues, it
may be best to look to a single word.
Sometimes when traveling outside North Carolina and sometimes when inside the
State, Zach would be asked “Where are you from?”
His reply would be “Mayberry.”
That single word – the name of an imagined place – the television name of his
hometown, Mount Airy - explains much about Zach.
Being from Mount Airy had a great deal to do with being Zach. Values and lessons
learned in that small town, in school and home and church and playing field
helped form this remarkable man.
There is an after-school program in North Carolina today because Zach saw what
study hall meant in a small town school. Programs for teachers have benefited
from his understanding of what teachers meant in that community. Neighborhoods
and neighborliness were important because he had grown up among them.
The stories of Mount Airy – of Mayberry – people and events colored his
conversation with a certain richness but they also formed a depth of character,
a quality of understanding and a range of generosity that earned him the
affection and respect of all of us.
His humor is now legendary.
An overbearing maitre d' in a Los Angeles restaurant asked him, “Do you want to
sit in smoking or non-smoking?” and Zach replied, “I don’t care about that; just
don’t put me where they are chewing gum.”
In his final hours, asked by a nurse “Are you comfortable, Mr. Smith? “ he
replied, “Well, I’ve been a lot more comfortable.”
He advised a young development officer at a major university to put the names of
donors on buildings with Velcro and watch the obituary columns closely.
He attended national meetings surrounded by others with chests full of important
looking badges while he wore one that he had made for himself which said simply
“Listener.”
And he listened and he learned and he acted and he did so most often on behalf
of other people.
He had learned all of that in a small town in the foothills of Northwestern
North Carolina.
When our son died not so long ago, Zach tearfully shared our grief and he wanted
me to know that his memory of Tommy would be of me with my arm around him. In
the last few days I have thought of how important that was to Zach and realized
that in so many ways over the years he had his arm around his family and friends
and around boys and girls and men and women who may never know his name.
Zach saw much of the world; he fought in a great war; he found himself often in
the presence of powerful people; he helped run a major corporation and two
foundations; scholarships and professorships at two great universities carry his
name; he dealt with issues of great importance.
Yet in all that truly measures a man and his worth, in all that is important to
the heart and the soul, in all that tests character and courage he never really
left Mayberry and Mayberry never left him.
Family Giving News is published monthly by the
national center for family philanthropy
1818 N Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
http://www.ncfp.org
please be advised that the content of family giving news is for informational
purposes only, and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
If you find any broken links or have difficulty loading any of the content of family giving news, Please click here.