Columbus, OH — Mindy Fitzgerald Smith, 73, née Marcia Helen Fitzgerald, died at her home in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on March 8, 2024.

She was born on April 28, 1950, in Utica, N.Y., and proudly raised in Needham, Mass. She graduated from Needham High School and the New England School of Art & Design in Boston.

She then followed her brother Billy into the harness racing industry which filled her life with dear friends, stories, travel, accomplishments, and most importantly, the love of her life, the late Roger D. Smith Jr., whom she married in 1997.

Mrs. Smith was an incredibly gifted artist, single-engine airplane pilot, and horse racing official and operator. She was an even better wife, sister, aunt, daughter, cousin, dog mom, and friend. She was a true New Englander: deeply proud of her Boston sports teams, a collector of all things L.L. Bean, and she spent her most cherished days in the bustle of Boston, the serenity of Sweden, Maine, the woods and lakes of Tuftonboro, N.H., or the beaches of Old Orchard and Scarborough. She loved her NYC years, but it was always good to be back in Red Sox Nation.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her nephew, Michael (Kaitlyn); niece, Mariel (Kevin); nephew, Daniel (Isabel); sister-in-law, Linda; five grandnieces; one grandnephew; and so many dear cousins and devoted friends. Sharing a life with Roger also meant a special bond with his children, Debra Ricker, David Smith, and Aaron Smith. Her black lab, Paco, will stay in the family.

She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Roger; best friend and brother, William; parents, Dorothy and William Sr.; and many friends and family. She’s reunited with all of her black labs, Tufty, Amos, Murray, and sweet Wigan.

She will always be remembered for her wicked funny sense of humor, her love for Roger, her relentless dedication to the care and well-being of her family and friends, and the warmth and color she brought into every room.

Mrs. Smith will be buried alongside Roger in a private ceremony in Sweden, Maine. A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date in the Old Orchard Beach area.

Memorial contributions may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc. (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.), or Mary’s Place by the Sea (Ocean Grove, N.J.).