Hundreds honour late RJRGLEANER CEO Anthony Smith

Hundreds of mourners, from the public and private sectors, including various media houses, gathered at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College on Sunday to celebrate the life of the late Anthony Smith, chief executive officer of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group.

Smith, 61, who passed away on December 14 last year after a brief illness, was remembered as a strong family man, compassionate leader, man of integrity and genuine friend.

His younger brother, Collin Smith, reflected on his humility, love of cricket, and close bond with family during an onstage interview-style tribute with Terrence Parris during the thanksgiving service.

"Many times people reflect on the date of birth, but there is a dash on the programme between the day of birth and the day of death, so imagine his entire life reflected by a dash. Tony was a family man. I remember growing up with Tony in Hatfield, Manchester, and to my family, this is not new. Tony was humble; he was not in the forefront, but he would be my reinforcement. I could talk to him about anything. He had a love for science, but he also loved sports, and because we were closest in age, we would walk home from school for lunch, and whenever we had to go back, he would say 'Collin, hurry up, I have to go back for cricket'," shared Collin Smith.

He also shared that it was he who introduced his brother to Karen, who would later become his wife.

In an earlier recorded message, Joseph M. Matalon, executive chairman of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, praised Smith's steady leadership, stating that he led the Group through a difficult transition.

"When people speak about leadership, they often speak about titles, achievements, years of service, but when I think of Tony Smith, I think of something far more enduring -- character. Tony has always been someone whose influence extended well beyond the roles that he formally occupied. He had a way of shaping rooms, conversations and outcomes, often quietly. You don't have to agree with Tony to respect him. His views were grounded, his reasoning was clear, and his intentions were always unmistakably sincere," Matalon said.

Matalon, who was present at the auditorium, was joined in supporting the family and friends by members of the senior management team and scores of staff members of RJRGLEANER, as well as the Massy Group and Cable & Wireless (now Flow), where Smith also worked.

He was also celebrated for his work with the deaf community and his fluency in sign language.

Smith joined RJRGLEANER in 2022, rising to CEO in January 2024.

He is survived by his widow, Karen, and their son, Daniel.