Obituary for Elizabeth Smith Brownstein
Norway - Elizabeth Smith Brownstein, 93, passed away peacefully at Evergreen Meadows in Norway, Michigan, on December 1, 2023, with her loving family close by.
Elizabeth was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1930 to Judge Frank E. Smith and Grace (Hanrahan) Smith. Elizabeth graduated Valedictorian of Taunton High School Class of 1948. She received her degree in Political Science and History from Wellesley College and a Master of Science in Economics and International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Her interest in travel led her to become Director of the New York office of The Experiment in International Living.
Her career, spent largely in the production of public affairs programs and cultural documentaries for both public and commercial television, began at CBS headquarters in New York City during the Edward R. Murrow era, where for four years she served as chief television researcher. Elizabeth worked as writer, researcher, and producer for some of the distinguished, intellectually demanding figures in television: Lawrence Spivak, Eric Sevareid, Martin Agronsky, Adrian Malone, and Martin Carr. She worked on programs such as See It Now, Person to Person, Meet the Press, and WETA's Evening Edition with Martin Agronsky. Later, she worked as Director of Research for Smithsonian World television series with host David McCullough. The program Smithsonian World won forty awards during its first three years.
She was the author of two books: If This House Could Talk, published by Simon & Schuster in 1999, and Lincoln’s Other White House, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2005. She spoke about her books to interested groups in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Virginia. and locally at the Dickinson County Library and for the Iron Mountain chapter of the GFWC Women’s Club. Many of her presentations were broadcast on the C-Span channel and can still be viewed online.
Professional memberships included American Friends of the London School of Economics (President 1980-1982, Executive Vice President 1977-1980), National Press Club, Society of Women Geographers, National Society of Arts and Letters, Patron of the Dumbarton Concert Series and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia.
Elizabeth’s fondest memories were of the summers spent at the family cottage on Cape Cod, MA. She loved classical music and was an accomplished pianist. Her love of history, research and travel guided her life’s work. Throughout her lifetime, she traveled widely throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa and visited over 125 potential sites in 20 states doing research for her first book. She enjoyed visiting Iron Mountain for holidays and birthdays.
Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Professor Virginia G. Smith of New York City; her sister-in-law, Alice Smith of Iron Mountain; nieces and nephews Frank (Cecilia) Smith, Andrew (Susan) Smith, Jennifer (Mark) Mitchell and Audrey Smith; and great nephews and nieces, Frank (Alicia) Smith, August Smith, Sophie Smith, Charles Smith, JonPaul Smith, Benjamin Smith, Jack Henry Hanrahan Smith, Conor Smith, Katherine Smith, Jacob Mitchell, and Sarah Mitchell; and great-great niece, Emma Adams.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Grace Smith of Taunton, Massachusetts; her brother, Frank E. Smith; and her nephew-in-law, Shawn M. Carlson.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will take place in Taunton.
The family would like to thank the staff at Victorian Pines and Evergreen Meadows for their loving care.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Elizabeth’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com
The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Elizabeth’s legacy of life.
Elizabeth was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1930 to Judge Frank E. Smith and Grace (Hanrahan) Smith. Elizabeth graduated Valedictorian of Taunton High School Class of 1948. She received her degree in Political Science and History from Wellesley College and a Master of Science in Economics and International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Her interest in travel led her to become Director of the New York office of The Experiment in International Living.
Her career, spent largely in the production of public affairs programs and cultural documentaries for both public and commercial television, began at CBS headquarters in New York City during the Edward R. Murrow era, where for four years she served as chief television researcher. Elizabeth worked as writer, researcher, and producer for some of the distinguished, intellectually demanding figures in television: Lawrence Spivak, Eric Sevareid, Martin Agronsky, Adrian Malone, and Martin Carr. She worked on programs such as See It Now, Person to Person, Meet the Press, and WETA's Evening Edition with Martin Agronsky. Later, she worked as Director of Research for Smithsonian World television series with host David McCullough. The program Smithsonian World won forty awards during its first three years.
She was the author of two books: If This House Could Talk, published by Simon & Schuster in 1999, and Lincoln’s Other White House, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2005. She spoke about her books to interested groups in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Virginia. and locally at the Dickinson County Library and for the Iron Mountain chapter of the GFWC Women’s Club. Many of her presentations were broadcast on the C-Span channel and can still be viewed online.
Professional memberships included American Friends of the London School of Economics (President 1980-1982, Executive Vice President 1977-1980), National Press Club, Society of Women Geographers, National Society of Arts and Letters, Patron of the Dumbarton Concert Series and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia.
Elizabeth’s fondest memories were of the summers spent at the family cottage on Cape Cod, MA. She loved classical music and was an accomplished pianist. Her love of history, research and travel guided her life’s work. Throughout her lifetime, she traveled widely throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa and visited over 125 potential sites in 20 states doing research for her first book. She enjoyed visiting Iron Mountain for holidays and birthdays.
Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Professor Virginia G. Smith of New York City; her sister-in-law, Alice Smith of Iron Mountain; nieces and nephews Frank (Cecilia) Smith, Andrew (Susan) Smith, Jennifer (Mark) Mitchell and Audrey Smith; and great nephews and nieces, Frank (Alicia) Smith, August Smith, Sophie Smith, Charles Smith, JonPaul Smith, Benjamin Smith, Jack Henry Hanrahan Smith, Conor Smith, Katherine Smith, Jacob Mitchell, and Sarah Mitchell; and great-great niece, Emma Adams.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Grace Smith of Taunton, Massachusetts; her brother, Frank E. Smith; and her nephew-in-law, Shawn M. Carlson.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will take place in Taunton.
The family would like to thank the staff at Victorian Pines and Evergreen Meadows for their loving care.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Elizabeth’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com
The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Elizabeth’s legacy of life.