In Memoriam
Frederick Middleton Rotan Smith
Fred Smith
1963 graduation
Frederick Middleton Rotan Smith of Manhattan passed away on August 11, 2017, at age 75, from complications related to heart disease.
Fred was born in New York City, where he attended St. Bernard’s School. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1959 and received a B.A. in History and Economics from Yale University in 1963.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Fred was hired by First Boston in 1967 and remained at the firm, and its successor Credit Suisse, for the duration of his career, retiring in 2002. He remained a senior advisor and consultant to the firm for a number of years thereafter. At First Boston, Fred established and then headed the firm’s media, transportation, and telecommunications Investment Banking Coverage Group. He later founded and co-headed the firm’s international private equity investment business.
Fred was a devoted father, world traveler, and passionate golfer. A fierce competitor, he won three club championships at the Fishers Island Club and two at the Deepdale Golf Club where he also won five senior championships.
Fred is survived by his three children (Frederick M. R. Smith, Jr., Margaret Smith Warden, and Charles Lister Smith), three grandchildren, and his beloved Alexa Gale Kroeger.
Bob Hanson writes:
“I did not know Fred Smith when we were classmates at Yale, but our paths often intersected during our respective investment banking careers. Fred was a tele-communications banker at First Boston, while I had a similar role at Merrill Lynch. On those occasions when First Boston and Merrill Lynch shared a banking assignment, it was a pleasure to work with Fred, although we were nominal competitors. He was the consummate investment banker – knowledgeable about the industry he covered and an all-around good guy. He will be missed.”