Mathilde Albury Smith, 88, Was Longtime Educator

Mathilde (Betty) Albury Smith, 88, of Darien, Conn. and Oak Bluffs died Jan. 8 at Rosewood Rehabilitation and Care in Converse, Tex.

Until recently, she had lived in Oak Bluffs and prior to retirement was a longtime resident of Darien.

Mathilde Elizabeth, the daughter of Mabelle M. and Charles G. Albury, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 15, 1918. She graduated in 1936 from Cranford High School in New Jersey where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the student council and the Union County Orchestra. As a young adult, she played in the New Jersey All-State Orchestra for two seasons.

After high school, Betty attended the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, N.Y. and graduated from Susquehanna University with a bachelor's degree in music in 1940. She was accomplished on both the cello and piano, was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, the international fraternity of music students and musicians, and was honored in Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges.

After graduating from college, Betty was the supervisor of the Garwood, N.J. music department. In this capacity, one of her many responsibilities was to oversee the musical direction and choreography of the school district's marching band.

On May 19, 1942, Betty married Bradford K. Smith of Maplewood, N.J. and Oak Bluffs. She lived her early married life in Cranford, leaving teaching and joining the Pennsylvania Railroad, where she worked on scheduling military troop movements during World War II.

In 1958, the family moved to Darien, where they lived for more than 25 years. Here Betty was a dedicated homemaker, and she and her husband raised their three children. During their tenure in Darien, the family took great pleasure from their membership in the Noroton Yacht Club. As a parishioner of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Darien, Betty enjoyed active participation in their altar guild.

In the early 1960s, Betty taught preschool at the former Plumfield School in Noroton. In 1963, she was appointed a member of the Darien board of education. Starting in 1966, she taught third grade boys for 13 years at King School in Stamford, Conn.

In retirement on the Vineyard, Mrs. Smith worked for the town of Oak Bluffs on voter registration and in community educational fund raising.

Survivors include her brother, the Rev. Canon Ronald G. Albury of Medford, N.J.; her children, Dr. Richard Smith of Universal City, Texas, Christine Rowan of New Canaan, Conn., and Sara Eslick of Surf City, N.C.; her grandchildren, Katherine and Zachary Smith of Universal City and Jonathan Rowan of New Canaan; as well as nine nieces and nephews.

Betty had a wonderful life filled with fond memories and many adventures, all the while gathering an abundance of lifelong friendships. All who knew her will dearly miss her.

A memorial service will be held in her memory on the Vineyard at Saint Andrew's Church in Edgartown in the spring. The cemetery interment service will be private.

As education was a dominant influence and a priority in her life, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in her name to the Holy Ghost Association Scholarship Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 2203, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.