HomeCharities & FundraisersSmith Has Guided The Huntington Through Extremely Exciting Time

Smith Has Guided The Huntington Through Extremely Exciting Time

After 10 Years as Chair of the Board of Trustees, San Marino’s Stewart Smith Will Hang Up One of His Many Philanthropic Hats

When he steps down next year after what will be 16 years on the board of trustees of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, the famed institution will barely resemble what it looked like in 2001 when he stepped up.

For it has been a decade and a half of change, clearly for the better, and San Marino’s Stewart Smith has overseen it all to the point he could be aptly named “Steward” Smith after having chaired The Huntington’s five-member board of trustees for the past decade.

The accomplishments that have occurred during his watch are staggering and read like a “what’s what” of the iconic institution.

  • The completion of The Huntington’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign in 2010. The goal was $175 million, and $243 million was raised.
  • A top-to-bottom renovation and restoration of the Huntington Gallery, including the original home as well as the Thornton Gallery, valued at $23 million.
  • The acquisition of a massive history of science library from the Dibner family, and the installation of the Dibner Hall of the History of Science.
  • The financing and construction of the $75 million Steven S. Koblik Education and Visitor Center.
  • The completion of the first phase of the Chinese Garden, with the financing of the second phase now almost complete.
  • The renovation of the Japanese Garden and the opening of the Huntington Ranch.
  • The renovation and rededication of the Scott Galleries and the Erburu Gallery – which more than doubled the space devoted to American art – as well as the further expansion of the Erburu in 2015. This fall, the Fielding Wing will be added.
  • The re-envisioning and reinstallation of the Main Exhibition Hall.
  • Major acquisitions in the library, art division and the botanical gardens, which itself added 7,000 orchids.
  • Numerous significant and widely appreciated exhibitions, such as the one devoted to the California life of Junipero Serra.
  • The creation of academic partnerships with USC.
  • Lowering of the endowment-spending rate to less than 5 percent, while tripling the endowment to approximately $420 million.

It’s not just brick, mortar and soil. The human element has also blossomed during Smith’s term. He has been instrumental in key hirings, including President Laura Skandera Trombley; Director of Research Steve Hindle; Director of Art Collections Kevin Salatino; Director of Education Catherine Allgor; Vice President for Financial Affairs Coreen Rodgers and the promotion from within of Randy Shulman to vice president for advancement.

Koblik harbors nothing but deep appreciation for Smith and his contributions.

“I was blessed to have two great board chairs, Robert Wykoff and Stewart Smith, during my tenure as President of The Huntington,” said Koblik, who officially retired on June 30, 2015. “Both provided me with guidance, advice, and wisdom that was essential for my work and each brought their own special talents to the job. Both understood The Huntington, loved it as I do, and wanted to serve the institution as best they could.

“Stewart is a native of San Marino and because of that, as board chair, he understood the community and believed that The Huntington enriched all who lived in the city. We worked as a team. He participated actively across the whole range of issues that confronted the institution. I could not have had better partners.”

Trombley, for whom Smith led the search, agrees.

“Stewart Smith was the Pomona College board chair when I met him in 2002,” she said. “Over the years I was impressed by his deep regard for higher education, his professionalism and integrity, and his dry wit and kindness. When he called me regarding my next presidency, while I looked forward to working with him in a different context, I was extremely pleased to find that all of my earlier observations remained true along with seeing first-hand Stewart’s passion for the arts and lifelong, deep fondness for The Huntington.”

When presented with the dossier of progress, Smith was typically humble.

“My job and that of our board was to assure good strategic directions, good senior leadership, good governance practices, good communication, good financial management and planning, and good camaraderie among The Huntington’s vast numbers of supporters,” Smith replied. “I give all of the credit to others, such as Steve Koblik. The growth of The Huntington has come about due to a massive team effort.”

Smith graduated from San Marino High School in 1964 after attending Carver Elementary and Huntington Middle School. He received his B.A. from Pomona College in 1968 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1971.

Stewart Smith remains a member of the California State Bar and is co-founder and CEO of Kinsmith Financial Corporation, which since 1979 has provided investment management and financial planning services.

Aside from his service at The Huntington, Smith is a trustee of Pomona College, where he served nine years as chairman of the board; a trustee of the American Ballet Theatre; a trustee of The Second Stage Theatre in New York City; a trustee and vice president of the Fletcher Jones Foundation; a director and president of The H. Russell Smith Foundation; and vice chair and chairman-elect of the Duke University Libraries Advisory Board.

Previously, Smith served as a trustee and vice chairman of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; as an overseer of the Claremont University Consortium; as a director of Community Television of Southern California; and as a director of Polytechnic School. Smith was also a trustee and president of the San Marino Schools Foundation between 1987-88; president of the board of Kidspace; President of the San Marino National Little League from 1991-92; a Director of the South Pasadena – San Marino YMCA; and a Member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association as a “white suiter.” Stewart is also the recipient of the California PTA Honorary Service Award for his many years of service to the San Marino Unified School District.

Prior to his current employment, Smith practiced law with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker in Los Angeles and with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Smith is married to Robin Ferracone, the founder and CEO of Farient Advisors. He has four surviving children from his first wife, Patti, all of who attended Polytechnic School: Graham, Logan, MacKenzie and Connor. Another son, Cameron, died of a brain tumor in 1987, close to his 11th birthday. “There was an amazing outpouring of community grief and support following his death,” Smith recalls. The ibrary at Huntington Middle School is named in Cameron’s memory.

Based on previous experience, it’s a safe bet Smith will be staying involved with The Huntington in some capacity.

“My years leading the Huntington board have been fabulously rewarding,” he said. “With the infectiously fast pace of President Koblik and the scholarly professionalism of President Trombley, we have all been drawn into pushing The Huntington ever higher in its excellence and prestige. The tireless and exceptional work of the senior staff, along with the astounding generosity of so many, provide exemplars for how such an exceptional cultural institution can come to function on all cylinders, year after year, with no loss of momentum. What a fun time this has been! Mr. Huntington would be proud, the citizens of San Marino should be proud, and I am certainly proud that I have been able to participate in such an incomparable endeavor.”

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