Barbara Andrews-Smith age 78, beloved wife of Gary S. Smith of Norwalk, passed away on May 25, 2015. She was born in Manhattan, NY on September 3, 1936 and was a daughter to Frank and Dorothy Hawkins Bateman. Barbara Bateman Andrews-Smith graduated from The Spence School in New York City, and Briarcliff College and continued her studies at Florida State University. Owner of Andrews & Associates housing consulting firm in Norwalk that worked with nonprofit organizations to develop housing complexes for low income elderly, developmentally disabled and mentally ill residents. Some of these are Laura Raymond Homes, Broad River Homes, Keystone House and Hilltop Homes. She was appointed by Governor Ella Grasso to the Central Housing Committee of Connecticut and received certification by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment officials as a Public Housing manager in 1983. She also served as the Fairfield County Director of the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund and served as the Commissioner of the Norwalk Housing Authority from 1968-1975. She was a member of the Connecticut Women in Planning & Development, the Housing Coalition and the Connecticut Community Development Association. Her involvement in politics was vast as she ran for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Norwalk in 1975, State Senate in 1978 and State House in 1982. She was Treasurer for District E Democrats and an active member of the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee. Barbara's volunteer work included serving as the Vice President for the West Norwalk Association in 2000 and flower chairperson for the First Congregational Church on the Green in Norwalk since 1991. She became a Justice of the Peace and officiated many weddings at her home in Norwalk. Survivors include her husband, Gary Smith; Daughter, Chappell Walendziak and her husband Ron; a brother, Brace Bateman and his wife Barbara from Australia; grandchildren, Brian Walendziak, Brenda McGuire, Craig Walendziak; 9 great grandchildren and many cousins, nephews and nieces she was predeceased by a son, Terry Andrews A Memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church on the Green in Norwalk, on July 22, 2015 at 11:00 am. Norwalks Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.
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