Model/Restauranteur B. Smith Passes Away At 70

Model, entrepreneur and style maven B. Smith has passed away at the age of 70 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Smith shared her diagnosis with the world in 2013. From TMZ:

Dan Gasby announced her death, saying, “It is with great sadness that my daughter Dana and I announce the passing of my wife, Barbara Elaine Smith.” He says she passed peacefully at 10:50 PM Saturday at their home on Long Island after having battled Alzheimer’s Disease for several years.

B. started her career in the 1960s as a model who was signed to Wilhelmina modeling agency. In 1976, she became the first black woman featured on a cover of Mademoiselle.

She went on to open 3 of her popular B. Smith restaurants in New York City, on Long Island and also in Washington, D.C.

B. landed her own cooking and lifestyle show in 1997 when “B. Smith with Style” debuted.

She and Dan married in 1992 and she became a stepmother to his daughter from a previous relationship.

I can’t recall how many times I passed her restaurant in New York City and would see her talking and laughing with patrons inside. Rest in power, B. Smith.