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Regina Marie Stapleton Smith, better known as “Jeannie,” who served as director of development at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, died on Feb. 11 at White Plains Hospital. She was 67.
She was responsible for fundraising, media relations and public relations at St. Joseph’s, 1999-2012. She helped to plan Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Dunwoodie when he came to New York in April 2008.
Ms. Stapleton Smith had a gift for welcoming and nurturing all those who came into contact with her—from seminarians and priests to members of the media and patrons.
In 2002, she assisted with organizing and publicizing the first archdiocesan-sponsored “Theology on Tap” sessions for young adults.
She served as director of development at Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, 1996-1999. Her two sons, Timmy and Andrew, were both graduates. After Timmy died of leukemia at age 17 in 1994, she and her husband, Russell, contributed money toward the renovation that turned the top floor of the high school into a center for student retreats, completed in 1996. It was named “The Timothy Smith Leadership Retreat Center.”
She earlier worked as editor of the help column at Gannett Westchester Newspapers and was an adjunct professor of communication at the College of Mount St. Vincent.
Born in Philadelphia, she held a bachelor’s degree in history from Immaculata University and a master’s in political science from Villanova University.
After marrying in 1972, the Smiths moved to Westchester, where they were parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows, White Plains.
Along with her husband, an attorney in White Plains, she is survived by a son, Andrew, associate athletic director at American University in Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Meg, a doctoral student in theological and social ethics at Fordham University; and a granddaughter, Noelle.
A Funeral Mass will be offered Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne.
