Jane Bennett Smart

Jane Bennett Smart

Troy - Jane Bennett Smart passed away peacefully at Eddy Memorial on October 4, 2011.

Jane was the wife of the late Frederick R. Smart and daughter of the late A. Clark Bennett and the late Katherine Mesick Bennett. Jane was born on October 7' 1926 and raised in Hudson, NY. She graduated from Hudson High School in 1944, Mount Holyoke College in 1948 where she studied Geology and English , and got her MS at Simmons School of English where she worked in the Special Publications Department. After graduating she worked for Harvard University in the Far Eastern Division. She spent three years in the Public Relations Department of Dartmouth College before taking time off to bicycle through 10 European countries. England remained a favorite destination. Jane worked at RPI on the Alumni Magazine before returning to Hudson for a twenty year career with the Troy Record serving first as a writer and then as Features and Society Editor. As a newspaper woman Jane had a variety of experiences including wrestling with eager dogs in the Capitol and riding a Barnum and Bailey elephant in a circus parade. Jane was a founding member of the Woman's Press Club of New York State Inc., served on the board for several years and was made a lifetime member.

Civic theater was one of Jane's many interests. She was a member of Albany Civic Theater and the New York State Theater Association where she served on the board for six years. She was also a member of Rensselaer County Council for the Arts.

A history buff, she served on the National Bicentennial Commission in Troy, and coauthored a chapter in the book Hudson Mohawk Gateway. She was a member of the Rensselaer and Columbia County Historical Societies.

Jane married a fellow newspaper journalist, Frederick Smart in September of 1973, who worked for the Times Union and Troy Record. Together they developed their shared love of antiques into a business, The Wooden Box, in Troy. Jane later continued the business at the Kinderhook Antiques Center.

Jane is survived by her stepson F. Richard Smart, his wife Patricia Finin Smart, her granddaughter Jennifer Blackwell and great grandsons Nathaniel and Charles Blackwell. Surviving cousins include Mary Lou Perkins of Colorado, J. Albert Myer Jr. of Texas, and Tim Benson of California.

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 11 AM at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy with Rev. Andrew Russ, officiating.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Jane Smart to the Rensselaer County Historical Society 57 Second Street Troy, NY 12180.

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