Robert Lee Smith
November 1, 1932 ~ March 5, 2022
Robert Lee (Chilson) Smith
89, of Fairfax, VA, passed away March 5, 2022 at his home after a long illness. Robert was born November 17, 1932 in Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, a museum he never visited. He much preferred attending the Glimmerglass Music Festival. His father, Walter Smith, Jr., was a carpenter in Cooperstown and his mother, Alice (Chilson) Smith was a housewife.
He received a B.A. in Music from the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam) where he was trained as a classical pianist. Following his senior recital at Carnegie Hall, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at West Point. After his honorable discharge, he worked as a professional pianist in NYC for several years and toured for a time as a rehearsal pianist for the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Robert was a man of many talents. He was one of the early developers of software for the insurance industry. He learned COBOL from Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer of computer programming. He retired from ACT Discover in Hunt Valley, MD in the 1990s where he developed software for career guidance counseling.
Robert also loved to plan trips and to travel with friends. Some of the international highlights include: Belize, South Africa, London, Italy, France, Helsinki, St Petersburg, New Zealand and cruises to the Greek Islands, the Caribbean, and on the Rhine and Danube Rivers. For many years he enjoyed relaxing in Ocean City, Maryland.
He is survived by his husband and life partner of 36 years, Kile Baker and his nephew, William Peevers of Utah. He was pre-deceased by his parents and older sister, Esther.
Robert loved classical music and the arts his entire life and returned to his home town of Cooperstown nearly every summer to attend performances at the Glimmerglass Festival. Donations in his memory may be made to the Glimmerglass Festival (https://www.glimmerglass.org) or to a charity of your choice.
Burial was private.
89, of Fairfax, VA, passed away March 5, 2022 at his home after a long illness. Robert was born November 17, 1932 in Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, a museum he never visited. He much preferred attending the Glimmerglass Music Festival. His father, Walter Smith, Jr., was a carpenter in Cooperstown and his mother, Alice (Chilson) Smith was a housewife.
He received a B.A. in Music from the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam) where he was trained as a classical pianist. Following his senior recital at Carnegie Hall, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at West Point. After his honorable discharge, he worked as a professional pianist in NYC for several years and toured for a time as a rehearsal pianist for the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Robert was a man of many talents. He was one of the early developers of software for the insurance industry. He learned COBOL from Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer of computer programming. He retired from ACT Discover in Hunt Valley, MD in the 1990s where he developed software for career guidance counseling.
Robert also loved to plan trips and to travel with friends. Some of the international highlights include: Belize, South Africa, London, Italy, France, Helsinki, St Petersburg, New Zealand and cruises to the Greek Islands, the Caribbean, and on the Rhine and Danube Rivers. For many years he enjoyed relaxing in Ocean City, Maryland.
He is survived by his husband and life partner of 36 years, Kile Baker and his nephew, William Peevers of Utah. He was pre-deceased by his parents and older sister, Esther.
Robert loved classical music and the arts his entire life and returned to his home town of Cooperstown nearly every summer to attend performances at the Glimmerglass Festival. Donations in his memory may be made to the Glimmerglass Festival (https://www.glimmerglass.org) or to a charity of your choice.
Burial was private.
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