David Biggs Smith

David Biggs Smith was 82 when he passed away at home on Monday, October 26, 2020.

David was the ultimate medical miracle.  As a young child he survived Polio, Measles, Scarlet Fever, Rheumatic Fever and Mumps.  In 1956 David also beat the odds again and survived pre cancer cells.

David graduated St. James Prep School in 1958 in Hagerstown, MD and attended the University of Richmond. Later he earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY.

David and his mother Rebe worked together for a long time as Realtors and partners at David & Rebe Biggs Smith Real Estate. David enjoyed many business ventures throughout the years. He was a man of many talents and tested his entrepreneurial skills with sun changing t-shirts, exporting Bytewriters (the first letter quality computer printers), banking and more.

Even though David learned to swim by being thrown into the creek in Trumansburg, he loved the water.  He started crewing on Roger Buell’s boat in the late 1970’s.  His love for sailing only grew from there and was passed down to his daughters.  David was a long time member of the Ithaca Yacht Club. During the spring, summer and fall months you could often find him down at the lake picnicking, sailing or diddling with the boat.  Over the years David had many partnerships in boats: a infamous ugLEEE green motorboat, Morning Star (freedom 22), a  Cal 25, Lasers just to name a few. David was always quick to lend a hand and ready to help anyone.  Over the years there were not many work parties that David wasn’t at.  To this day there are many benches on the property to reflect his commitment to the club.  He also proudly served on Harbor and Dock Committees at the Yacht Club.

If you knew David you knew he was a tremendous lover of all animals except the deer that often came to his backyard to eat his vegetables and flowers.  At home David always had full bird and hummingbird feeders.  He would share with anyone who would listen all the different birds he saw that day.  As a child he also had A LOT of bunny rabbits and was an avid horse lover.  If you spent any time with David, you also know he LOVED his dogs...especially Newfoundlands.  He always had a new story of something funny one of the dogs did.  His mother, Rebe, started his love for dogs.  Rebe was instrumental in starting the SPCA of Tompkins County. In the beginning, Rebe would sit at a card table and sign people up in front of the Post Office.

David was a member of the Ithaca Dog training Club.  He got involved after he received his first Newfoundland, which he named Sheba.  Sheba was a wedding gift from Bobbi.  When Bobbi picked up Sheba, she was as long as three one hundred dollar bills which is what she paid for her.  After Sheba there was Senta, Sam and Grizzly Bear.  After that David’s Newfoundlands were all rescues.  Newfoundlands just seemed to find David.  Midnight was a “Black Golden Retriever” at the SPCA that David heard about on the radio while driving.  He stopped what he was doing and went to see this “Black Golden Retriever” that he was convinced was a Newfoundland.  He was right and Midnight pulled at David’s heart strings so he brought her home even though he hadn’t asked or discussed it with anyone...including his wife who was on a work trip in Albany at the time.  Anya and Sully were just dogs David was going to “try it out” but found their forever home.  He did have a couple of “other dogs” he would spoil.  There was Ruffles, the guiding eye dog the family raised but came back to live with them after she failed out of the program because she had eye issues and missed David.  He also took great care of Ashley (Shetland Sheepdog).

David was a proud member of the Kiwanis Club.  He loved and believed in their mission and never missed the annual chicken BBQ fundraiser held at Stuart Park during the year the Ithaca festival was held there.  He would always come home smelling like charcoal fire and Cornell BBQ chicken marinate.

David enjoyed Ice Hockey.  It was the only sport he would watch on TV or attend live.  He spent many years attending the Men’s and Women’s Cornell Hockey games.  During the men’s hockey games you would find David in H row 2 seat 13 or 14.

David was a student of life and loved to read, learn and listen to music. He was a fair and kind man and impartial and even worked as mediator for Ithaca.  He was a gentle, loving and supportive father and husband.

A celebration of his life is planned for the summer of 2021 for friends and family to gather at the lake. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bobbi; his two daughters: Stacey and Scott Ustin & Kirsten and Jack Vangrofsky; and his four loving grandchildren. Due to COVID, the family is having a small family gathering in October and ask that friends and family send stories and pictures via email for a book to be presented at David’s celebration of life next summer.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the SPCA of Tompkins County in David’s honor.