Determined. Independent. Spunky. Mildred “Smitty” Smith was an organized, no-nonsense nurse from the Old School. . . and so much more. Those closest to her will attest that she also had an enormous heart – one that has come to lay the foundation for a meaningful legacy.
Smitty was proud to hail from the section of Centerville that ran along the Old National Pike. She graduated from Centerville High School in 1941 and the Washington Hospital School of Nursing (SON) in 1944. Smitty also pursued post-graduate studies at Washington and Jefferson College as well as what is now PennWest California.
As an only child who was unmarried, Smitty always recognized that she was responsible for taking care of herself. Professionally, she worked as a registered nurse and nursing instructor at both Washington Hospital (now UPMC Washington) and Brownsville Hospital. She also spent 34 years as an office nurse for Dr. J.W.G. Hannon.
Deeply rooted in her faith, Smitty attended services at Centerville United Methodist Church as long as she could. At one point, she even served as the oldest living member of the church. Additionally, Smitty was an enthusiastic traveler. During a time when it was not acceptable for young women to travel alone, Smitty arranged for a chaperone to take her on a tour of Europe, documenting her experiences through postcards to her parents.
Captivated by the world around her, Smitty developed a passion for digital photography – especially beautiful scenes from nature. This fostered a commitment to organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society.
And with a little help from her friends Nancy and Ray Racunas, Smitty relished in the excitement of online shopping.
Her time at the SON was an important part of her life, and Smitty was determined to attend the reunions whenever she could – even if that meant having to coordinate a ride.
Smitty was also an avid reader who loved to learn about the latest advancements in the field of medicine. Although her eyesight began to fail in her final months, her mind remained sharp.
When Smitty passed in 2022 at the age of 99, it came as no surprise that all her final affairs were in order. In fact, she even requested that the funeral repast be hosted at the Century Inn, a most beloved place to visit. Although the various details of her estate had been addressed, Smitty did leave a few final surprises for her friends.
Cheryl Wheat, Smitty’s longtime friend and executrix, remarked, “We discovered that she learned how to invest and manage her own stock portfolio…That floored me!”
Many people who care deeply about a particular charitable cause like to leave a gift for it in their will.
As part of her legacy, Smitty left a bequest to the Foundation designated for the SON, supporting both scholarships as well as the equipment, technology, and supplies needed for nursing education. The first distributions from the Mildred Smith Scholarship and the Mildred Smith Nursing Education Fund will be made in 2025.