The Brigham community was saddened to hear Richard A. Smith passed away on September 9, 2020. A leading figure in Boston philanthropy, he has left an extraordinary legacy. The story below was published in the Summer 2020 issue of the Brigham’s Life.Giving.Breakthroughs. newsletter.

“Our family has great respect for the power of healthcare to make an enduring difference in families’ lives. We are honored to support this life-changing and life-saving work that happens in the Brigham’s NICU.”
—RICHARD A. SMITH

As lifelong residents and philanthropists in the Greater Boston community, Richard A. Smith and his family have generously supported many local prestigious healthcare and academic organizations that widely impact people’s lives across the world.

The Brigham’s recently renovated NICU will be named for the Smith family.

“Philanthropy greatly enriches our lives, as much as we hope it makes a difference in the lives of others,” says Richard Smith. “It is gratifying and meaningful to involve three generations of our family in charitable decisions and to support world-class local institutions.”

Recently, Smith and his family, through the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, deepened their commitment to the Boston community with a $10 million gift to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In recognition of this visionary gift, the Brigham will name the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation Newborn Intensive Care Unit in their honor.

“Under the inspiring leadership of Dr. Terrie Inder, our NICU is a place of exceptional care, expertise, and hope for the future,” says Brigham President Betsy Nabel, MD. “We are proud the NICU will bear the name of the Smith family as a lasting symbol of their extraordinary generosity and faith in our mission.”

After a large-scale renovation and expansion, the NICU is now the largest and most advanced in New England, caring for more than 1,000 premature and at-risk babies each year. Incorporating some of the most exciting innovations in newborn care and research, including an MRI machine designed specifically for infants, the state-of-the-art space will enable discoveries and benefit countless families in the years to come.

“Seeing our redesigned NICU in action every day is truly breathtaking,” says Terrie E. Inder, MD, MBChB, chair of the Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine. “We built it based on our research, which shows how to enhance babies’ development and support their families during the most worrying of times. These upgrades make all the difference in our level of care.”

Richard Smith adds, “Our family has great respect for the power of healthcare to make an enduring difference in families’ lives. We’re honored to support the Brigham’s lifesaving and life-changing work.”