Anita Curran Smith, MD

Anita Curran Smith, MD, of Mahwah, NJ (formerly of Westfield, NJ) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sunday, February 21, 2021.

Anita had a distinguished career in medicine and public health. Despite having been told many times in her youth that “girls don’t become doctors,” Anita was one of only three women in the graduating class of 1955 from New York Medical College School of Medicine. Having completed her internship at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, NJ, Anita went on to raise four children while working part-time as a physician serving community health clinics.  In her 40s, Anita returned to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University.

Anita went on to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Health for New York City, and in 1978 she was appointed the first female Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Health; a position she held until 1989. In her last position before retiring in 1996, Anita served as Associate Dean, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Anita was a brilliant, vibrant, vivacious woman who made friends easily and demonstrated kindness and respect to all those she met. 

Anita was predeceased by her beloved husband, Marshall A. Smith. She is survived by her children, Maureen Curran Kleinman, Kathryn Curran, Michael Curran, and John Curran and his wife Louise. She is also survived by three stepchildren and their spouses, Marshall and Debra Smith, Judy and Gary Impellizeri, and John and Melissa Smith. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services for Anita will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Anita’s name to Valley Hospice (ValleyHospitalFoundation.org), the American Medical Women’s Association (amwa-doc.org), or to the charity of your choice.

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