Royce Smith

December 4, 2017

Smith, Royce Obituary

Royce Smith (b. Naomi Hammond Smith)

August 6, 1923, December 4th, 2017

A true New Yorker has passed away at the age of 94.

Royce Smith left this planet peacefully on E. 84th St, her home for 65 years, held lovingly by two of her closest friends.
 
Royce’s colorful life started in South Dakota in 1923. The family moved to Nebraska, where her parents carved out a stable life for the family. This humble upbringing would not reflect the adventures Royce would pursue,
 
Royce’s creative spirit led to her early yearnings for independence. She traveled Europe and the U.S. extensively, and became one of this country’s first female air traffic controllers during WWII.  She recounted harrowing training freefalls that she participated in, and expressed a sincere respect for pilots for the rest of her life. Royce eventually landed in New York City in 1942.
 
Her romantic life was not varied, but deep. There was a brief engagement to a handsome Italian man she had met in Florence in her youth. Despite a romantic gondola ride in Venice, and months of travel back and forth, the relationship would prove untenable due to logistics. She later met a New York hotelier, with whom she would have a Hepburn/Tracy romance for 25 years. They traveled the world together and she was at his side when he passed away.
 
In addition to air traffic control, Royce had a few other careers, including one of a dressmaker (under the tutelage of the famous Russian aristocrat Mdme. Obolensky,) and eventually that of an insurance marketer at Printronic. This last career ended on September 11, 2001. Printronic’s offices were located across from the World Trade Center Towers. Royce and her co-workers barely made it out before the first tower fell. Royce walked all the way back to 84th St., and realizing she was hungry, stopped at the Waldorf Astoria for one of their famous salads, still covered in soot and ash.
 
Royce is survived by her cousin Jason Kincaid and his wife Barbra Erickson. She is also survived by a devoted, eccentric, curated family of friends that filled Royce’s days with love, laughter and lots of old movies. She will be deeply missed by all those she touched with her grace, her beauty and her loving friendship.
 
Royce’s wish to die at home, in peace and with dignity, was made possible by the incredible work of the MJHS Foundation. It is the family’s wish to encourage donations to this wonderful organization in Royce’s name.
https://mjhsfoundation.org/donate/




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Royce Smith