Patricia M. Smith

Patricia McEvoy Smith– Attorney, wife, mother, grandmother, trailblazer and active volunteer

 

Patricia M. Smith, 82, died peacefully in her home on July 18, 2025 in Gwynedd, PA surrounded by the love of her family.

 

She was born on July 15, 1943 in New York, New York to John Joseph McEvoy and Ellen Hoffman McEvoy. She is survived by her husband, Rush Blackfan Smith, of nearly 60 years and three daughters, Kimberly Smith Guerster (Jonathan M.), Leslie Hughes Smith Jannetta (Gregory S.) and Christina Topley Smith as well as her six grandchildren (Bela, Mason and Brooke Guerster; Hannah Jannetta; and Finley and Richard Paul) and twin sisters Eloise and Denise McEvoy. Her brother John J. McEvoy Jr. pre-deceased her.

 

Patricia grew up in Manhasset, NY, and developed a deep curiosity for and appreciation of art and culture living close to New York City, which shaped her life. During her earlier years, she enjoyed waterskiing to work during the World’s Fair, playing the clarinet in her school’s marching band, and traveling around Europe with her grandmother. She reminisced about her middle and high school days of reciting Latin declensions to football chants and reading books such as Gone with the Wind that she devoured one spring break.

 

Her pursuit of knowledge and love of learning led her to attended Newton College in Massachusetts where she majored in History, wrote her senior thesis on the court case “Brown versus Board of Education,” and developed a fascination with the legal system. She met many lifelong friends there and her husband when a mutual friend set them up on a blind date during a snowy evening to watch a Cornell versus Harvard ice hockey game. She married Rush before settling in the Philadelphia area shortly after their first daughter was born.

 

Patricia’s curiosity, determination and love of learning inspired her children, grandchildren and all the lives she touched. Right out of college she initially worked as a stockbroker’s assistant at Paine Weber while obtaining a master’s degree in education, and becoming a Reading Specialist. She taught reading and worked on her doctorate at night until her forties when she decided to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. She attended her cousin Jane Hoffman’s law school graduation in New York City, and seeing her walk across the stage became a watershed moment that fueled Patricia’s determination. A daughter recalled, “She broke the mold and pursued her dreams, despite comments trying to dissuade her. Seeing her cousin’s success set my mother in motion, and she became a renaissance woman who led by example.”

 

Patricia’s love of writing and crafting arguments earned her a position as an Editor of the Law Review at Rutgers School of Law. Before graduating, she accepted an Associate’s position at Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis- Cohen, a top Philadelphia firm where she also worked during the summer before her third year of law school. She left Wolf Block to spend more time with family and went on to enjoy over twenty-five years as an attorney for the Social Security Administration, serving as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Mid-Atlantic region. Her colleagues recognized her as a hardworking leader who led by example. She won national accolades for her winning record and took pride in protecting the Federal Government’s trust fund.

 

Patricia blended roles of career professional, devoted wife, inspirational mother, doting grandmother, active volunteer and trusted friend with consummate grace. She enthusiastically supported everyone around her and was always there cheering on her children and grandchildren for important athletic events, concerts and milestones.

 

Patricia loved to celebrate the birthdays of her family and friends, gathering them together and feeding them with her delicious meals and coconut or chocolate desserts. “Nana” as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren checked in with the family at mealtimes; she always made each and every family member feel special.  Her grandchildren would sometimes get her to have a dance party after the meal or play a fun word game.  She was “the bravest, gutsiest, most loving mother. She taught us we could do anything by believing in us. She was always there,” said one of her daughters.

 

Patricia was “the most courageous person I know,” continued her daughter. She showed remarkable strength throughout her life, whether going to law school in her forties or fighting cancer, her fortitude was steadfast.  In the final years when she was going for frequent medical appointments, she never complained. Instead, she focused on see how she could be helpful to the health care workers who were providing her care. She was always asking them about their lives and families and patiently listening to what was in their hearts.

 

Patricia was an active member for nearly 60 years at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill. In March, she and her husband were recognized by the church vestry with the Polly Randall Award for their years of extraordinary service.  As an active volunteer, she loved to bake for others and take a meal or lend a helping hand through countless ministries. She chaired the annual Christmas bazaar fundraiser and co-chaired the Alter Guild. Her faith grew as a participant in the EFM (Education for Ministry) Bible study program. She had a special ability to listen and make others feel understood. She used this gift to serve in the Stephen Ministry at church during the initial years of her retirement.

 

Patricia had many hobbies including cooking, golf, travel, birding, gardening, art, music and caring for their sweet black labradors. You name it, she did it with passion and her creative touch. When her children attended Germantown Friends for their elementary school years and Patricia learned that the parents made the Halloween costumes by-hand, she sharpened her sewing skills. Later, she learned to knit and made the most beautiful sweaters for her children and grandchildren. Last winter, she took a watercolor painting class through the art program at her retirement community.  She was a dedicated volunteer over the years to the Junior League of Philadelphia, the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center, the League of Women Voters and the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Women’s Committee. Through this past season, she and Rush enjoyed season tickets to the Philadelphia Orchestra.

 

Patricia loved to golf with family and friends, a sport she started when she turned 50. Her weekly golf game with friends at the Philadelphia Cricket Club brought her great joy. Her love of the outdoors prompted her to become a gardener at the age of 80. She planted a large vegetable garden in a plot within the Foulkeways retirement community garden. She loved spending time in the garden, learning how to make the vegetables and flowers flourish, and then giving them away to family and friends.

 

Patricia also had a great sense of adventure and passed this on to her children and grandchildren. She loved family trips over the years to the New Jersey Shore, Winter Harbor in Maine, Nantucket, New Hampshire and Alaska. She also enjoyed traveling with children to Montana, Washington DC, San Francisco, England and France. In 2019 she, along with Rush, one of her daughters and a group of Episcopalians—many from St. Martin-in-the-Fields—enjoyed a trip to Israel and Petra, Jordan. Former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and St. Martin’s rector Frank Griswold helped lead the trip, which Patricia called “faith affirming.”  She felt great peace tracing the steps of Jesus throughout the Holy Land.

 

 

A funeral service is planned for Friday July 25^th, 2025 at 11:00 AM

at Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

8000 St Martin’s Lane Philadelphia, PA 19118

A live stream will be available on the church’s website

 

Link:

https://www.stmartinec.org/live

 

 

Instead of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of Patricia M. Smith (write in memo line) to:

 

Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

8000 St. Martin’s Lane

Philadelphia, PA 19118

 

Or made at this link:

 

https://www.stmartinec.org/give

 

 

Donations are also welcome to support gynecologic cancer research at Penn Medicine.  Thank you for writing the check to ‘Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania’ and indicating ‘in memory of Patricia M. Smith’ on the check memo line or in a note with your gift.  The address to use in support of Penn Medicine is:

 

Penn Medicine Development Attn: Maddie Hansen, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA, 19104

 

Additionally, donations to Penn Medicine can be made by visiting this link:

https://giving.apps.upenn.edu/fund?program=MED&fund=604151.