JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. — Olga W. (Willcox) Smith, 72, living in Jupiter Island, Fla. , died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010.
Born in Ossining, N.Y., she went to boarding school at Northfield Mount Hermon in Massachusetts and graduated from New York University with a dual degree in Math and Physics. She also earned her MBA at Boston University in Brussels, Belgium. Of historical note, Olga (at 18 months) was brought out of Poland in 1939 by her mother, Olga Eleanor Willcox, and father, William Arthur Bush Willcox, on the last U.S. ship leaving Poland, just before Germany invaded. The ship was captained by her father.
Olga's career included working for General Precision Laboratory (GPL), IBM, Xerox Data Systems and Gamma. At each corporation, she was one of the first women pioneers to break into the fields of computers and electronics. While at GPL, she held her private pilot's license. She was an avid gardener, accomplished mathematician, gourmet cook, polyglot, and a consummate world traveler, including studying French at the Sorbonne in Paris, living for four years in Tokyo, Japan, and 11 years in Brussels, Belgium. She truly loved animals, especially her own and instilled that love in her children.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Chris Smith of Jupiter, Fla.; her son, Erik Smith, and his wife Lauren of Andover; her daughter, Catherine (Cathy) Smith of Sammamish, Wash.; two brothers, Eric Willcox of Westfield, and Jon Willcox of Whitehall, N.Y.; half-sister, Michelle (Willcox) Bruhn; three grandchildren, Hugh Smith, Gavin Smith and Isobel Smith of Andover; and her faithful and beloved dog, Sweetie.
ARRANGEMENTS: She will be buried in Andover, near the home of her son Erik. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Seattle Humane Society at 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA 98005; or by calling 425-373-5382. She will be greatly missed. We love you Mom. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Conte Funeral Home, 28 Florence St., Andover. To leave online condolences, please visit www.contefuneralhomes.com.
