On behalf of her many old friends and members of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, and personally, I express great sadness at the passing of Hazel C. Smythe, longtime resident and Garden City real estate broker. Many longtime members of the chamber, as well as residents and former business associates will well recall Hazel and Smythe Real Estate and Travel, located for many years on the SW corner of Franklin Avenue and Seventh Street. (The travel section was operated by Hazel's daughter, Diana Whittaker.) The location for the past many years has been the home of Leo's. Many very old-timers, like myself, will even remember the address as the Garden City "Temple of Music" where 45 and 78 rpm records could be "previewed" in soundproof booths - such history.

For many folks who became associated with Hazel Smythe - either through friendship, real estate dealings or through her contributions to the Village through Chamber of Commerce efforts, there are memories of a charismatic lady who charmed her way into many associations in her own colorful way.

There are memories of Hazel working along with Ruth Hoffman Krist, honorary chamber member to see to it that our business district was properly decorated for countless holiday seasons. Many will recall the several terms Hazel served as a highly active director on the chamber board, acting as the first representative to the newly formed Nassau County Council of Chambers of Commerce in the early '80s.

But then, there came the day when Hazel Smythe finally fulfilled her term as chamber director... and the day when she finally retired from the real estate business and went to work for a while for the county... and then the day when we got to see less and less of this special lady, as retirement became the eventuality.

This is written so that Hazel's family will know that many of her old friends will recall a person with a "heart of gold," whose kindnesses touched many who knew her. Hazel's family wishes her to be remembered as a very special wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend - and "last but not least, as a good Christian who truly loved people." The family plans a special memorial service at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on Saturday, Jan 23 at 10 a.m., and welcomes all to attend who wish to pay their respects.

Althea Robinson, executive director

Garden City Chamber of Commerce