Lawrence S. Smith, 67, Comcast executive

Lawrence S. Smith, 67, of Worcester Township and Jupiter, Fla., an executive who helped build Comcast Corp. from a small regional company into an industry leader in cable television, died Tuesday, April 28, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania of complications from aplastic anemia.

"Larry was unique and a role model for everyone on how to enjoy all that life offers," said Brian Roberts, the company's chairman and CEO. "His time on Earth seems way too short, and we are so saddened today."

Trained as a certified public accountant, Mr. Smith signed on with Arthur Andersen fresh out of college. He quickly rose to partner and remained there until leaving for several other job opportunities. He joined Comcast as an executive officer in 1986.

Over the next 18 years, Mr. Smith served as Comcast's co-chief financial officer - he partnered with John Alchin - to "maintain and improve the incredible financial culture of Comcast," Roberts said.

At the same time, Mr. Smith assumed another critical role; he led an ambitious series of mergers and acquisitions that increased the company by 20 times from its original size, Roberts said.

"His immediate impact was the Adelphia Communications, and the AT&T, and the Lenfest [companies] he added," said Roberts. "He structured all those deals."

In 1999, for instance, when Comcast agreed to purchase Lenfest Communications, the Wilmington company then owned by AT&T and the Lenfest family, for $6.71 billion in stock and debt, Mr. Smith was an essential player.

Once in place, the acquisition added 1.25 million customers to Comcast's mid-Atlantic subscriber base for a total of four million, positioning the firm for further national growth.

H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, now owner and publisher of The Inquirer, said he remembered facing Mr. Smith across the negotiating table. What he saw was a skilled deal maker, and someone he could like and admire.

"When I sold my company, I negotiated with Larry," Lenfest said. "Larry was really wonderful to deal with, but he was no pushover. He was a hard negotiator, but a man of great integrity; he wanted to have a fair deal without taking advantage of anyone."

Quiet and respectful, Mr. Smith never raised his voice during negotiations, Lenfest said, but would not back down when he felt it was warranted. Lenfest came to see that moral standards emanating from his faith as a member of Central Schwenkfelder Church informed all of Mr. Smith's business decisions.

"I would hope that any company that wanted to be successful would follow the ethics of Larry Smith. Being ethical is good business," Lenfest said.

At Comcast, and in his life outside the office, Mr. Smith was "gentle, friendly, fun, irreverent, curious, humble, and not afraid to try" things, said Roberts.

A devoted family man, Mr. Smith married Christine Jenkins Smith, whom he had known since grade school. The couple would have observed their 48th wedding anniversary on June 3.

Born in Abington, Mr. Smith was a son of W. Graham and Grace Haig Smith. After finishing classes at Upper Dublin High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Ithaca College in 1969.

In retirement, he remained active in the business world, serving on the boards of directors of Air Products & Chemicals Inc., TE Connectivity Ltd., Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital, GSI Commerce, MGM Holdings Inc., Clemens Family Corp., Preferred Sands, Meadowood Senior Living, Ithaca College, and the Perkiomen School.

Mr. Smith served on the board of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA - the umbrella group for YMCAs in Southeastern Pennsylvania - from 2005 until 2012, and as board chairman from 2007 until 2010. It was a responsibility he took seriously.

"The new Ambler Y is named after him and his wife in recognition of their generosity," said Carl B. Everett, who served with Mr. Smith on the umbrella group's board of directors.

Everett said he worked closely with Mr. Smith to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a new fitness facility on the site of a former bubble gum plant in Havertown.

"We were able to tap Larry's expertise in deal-making throughout the process," Everett said. "His invaluable guidance helped secure an arrangement with Haverford Township that was fair to all concerned, and the project has been a resounding success."

Mr. Smith was an avid golfer, enjoyed investing, and lived on a farm where he raised cattle, sheep, and goats, and bred standardbred horses. Above all else, he cherished time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

His wife said Mr. Smith had a dry sense of humor, and was practical and realistic. And while he deftly navigated the world of high finance, he never really sought the limelight. "He was always a grassroots kind of guy," his wife said.

Son Christopher said his father had a moral compass - an integrity - that afforded him the respect of others in business and personal life, even those on opposite sides of an issue. "He was unique," his son said.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Smith is survived by another son, Andrew; a daughter, Lauren Rieger; nine grandchildren; and a brother.

A visitation from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, and again from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. Monday, May 4, at Central Schwenkfelder Church, 2111 Valley Forge Rd., Lansdale, will be followed by a 10:30 a.m. memorial service in the church. Interment is in the church cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA via https://philaymca.org/support-the-y/give-online/, or to the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation via http://www.aamds.org/get-involved/donate.

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