Charles E. Smith (developer)
Encyclopedia
Charles E. Smith was a real estate developer and philanthropist in the Washington DC area.
Smith he graduated in accounting from City College of New York
. He started as a developer in Brooklyn, but lost everything in the Great Depression
. He moved to Rockville, MD where he developed apartments and office buildings. He founded the Charles E. Smith Co. and developed the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia. He retired in 1967 and turned to philathropy.
He was a trustee of George Washington University
(GWU) from 1967 to 1976 as well as Chairman of the Committee on University Development. The
Charles E. Smith Athletic Center
at George Washington University is named in his honor. He played a key role in developing GWU's branch campus in Loudoun County, Virginia.
His contributions to Jewish Philanthropy include
Smith held honorary doctorates from Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, the Jewish Theological Seminary
and George Washington University
. In 1997 he was posthumously awarded an Honor Award
from the National Building Museum
alongside other community developers of Washington, D.C., including Morris Cafritz
and Charles A. Horsky
.
Life
Smith immigrated from Russia in 1911 speaking only Yiddish.Smith he graduated in accounting from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
. He started as a developer in Brooklyn, but lost everything in the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He moved to Rockville, MD where he developed apartments and office buildings. He founded the Charles E. Smith Co. and developed the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia. He retired in 1967 and turned to philathropy.
Philanthropy
He planned a complex in Rockville for Jewish agencies including the Hebrew Home for the Aged, the Jewish Social Service Agency and the Jewish Community Center.He was a trustee of George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(GWU) from 1967 to 1976 as well as Chairman of the Committee on University Development. The
Charles E. Smith Athletic Center
Charles E. Smith Athletic Center
The Charles E. Smith Athletic Center is a 5,000-seat multipurpose arena in Washington D.C.. It is home to the George Washington University Colonials men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's swimming, water polo, gymnastics, and volleyball teams...
at George Washington University is named in his honor. He played a key role in developing GWU's branch campus in Loudoun County, Virginia.
His contributions to Jewish Philanthropy include
- Charles E. Smith Jewish Day SchoolCharles E. Smith Jewish Day SchoolThe Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, often referred to as CESJDS or JDS, is a private, pluralistic Jewish K-12 school in Rockville, Maryland....
- Charles E. Smith Life Communities
Smith held honorary doctorates from Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, the Jewish Theological Seminary
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
and George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. In 1997 he was posthumously awarded an Honor Award
Honor Award
The National Building Museum promotes excellence in architecture, engineering, construction, planning, and design. In furtherance of that mission, the Museum instituted an annual Honor Award in 1986 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made important contributions to the U.S.'s...
from the National Building Museum
National Building Museum
The National Builders Museum, in Washington, D.C., United States, is a museum of "architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning"...
alongside other community developers of Washington, D.C., including Morris Cafritz
Morris Cafritz
Morris Cafritz was a Washington, D.C. real estate developer, and philanthropist.-Life:His family immigrated from Lithuania, to Washington, D.C. They lived at 2706 N Street, in Georgetown. He bought produce for his father's grocery store...
and Charles A. Horsky
Charles Antone Horsky
Charles Antone Horsky served as the Advisor on National Capital affairs under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and was a partner at the law firm of Covington & Burling for nearly forty years...
.