Barbara A. Smith

Barbara A. Smith, age 84, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026. Born in Albany, NY to John and Winifred (Quinlan) Milian, she graduated from Vincentian Institute in Albany and attended Siena College where she studied Accounting. She then joined the Albany County District Attorney’s office as Office Manager and later served as office manager for two Albany law firms and still later as Business Manager for the Capital Repertory Theater.
   Barbara later married Ralph Smith, the former Albany County District Attorney and later a federal judge, who survives her. She is also survived by the children of their blended family, Kim Huggins (Colorado), Jeffrey Highter and his wife Becky (Colorado), Eric Highter and his companion, Dawn Douglas (Albany), Mark Smith and his wife Julie Monaco (North Carolina), Tara Smith (Ohio) and Todd Smith and his wife Aimee (Colorado). She is also survived by grandchildren Saxton (Illinois), Ethan (Colorado), and Giada and Emmalia (North Carolina). She was predeceased by a grandson, Elijah (Colorado).
An expert skier, she was a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America and as a volunteer she taught skiing to disabled civilians and injured military veterans at Windham Ski Area in the Hudson Valley and at the Crested Butte Ski Area in Colorado. Upon her husband’s retirement, they moved to Harwich Port on Cape Cod where she continued her public service as a volunteer at the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. As a final selfless act, Barbara donated her body to the Anatomical Gift Program at Harvard Medical School to assist future physicians in their medical training.
The family expresses its appreciation to the VNA of Cape Cod Hospice who cared for her at home in her final days. At Barbara’s request, as agreed to by the family, there will be no memorial service.
Those wishing to honor her memory are encouraged to perform an act of kindness to someone in need.