Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Lon Hayes Smith |
| Born | March 15, 1937 |
| Died | August 22, 2021 |
| Education | B.S. in Business, graduated 1959 |
| Occupation | Finance professional, investment banking |
| Notable Employers | Dun and Bradstreet; Paine Webber; Morgan Stanley |
| Last Known Residence | Easton, Maryland, Eastern Shore |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Altschul (first wife) |
| Children | Whitney Sudler-Smith (born June 2, 1968) |
| Parents | Avise Hayes Smith; Delton Smith |
Early Life and Formative Years
Lon Hayes Smith was born on March 15, 1937, into a mid-century America that valued stability and long careers. He was raised mostly by his mother, Avise Hayes Smith, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. After that, a B.S. in Business was earned, with 1959 listed as the graduation year. A disposition suited to numbers, ledgers, and the patience needed for a career in finance was developed by those early years. Basic customs turned become pillars. It was routine. The young man who departed West Virginia had a work ethic that would last for decades and a quiet thirst for order.
Family and Personal Relationships
Family for Lon was both lineage and reinvention. He married Patricia in the early 1960s. The union produced one child, Whitney Sudler-Smith, born June 2, 1968. Patricia later became well known in social and cultural circles, and Whitney grew into a public figure in film and television. The family arc moves from small town to social page to the glare of entertainment. Later in life Lon settled on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where a quieter domestic life unfolded.
Key family members and roles in Lon’s life:
| Relation | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mother | Avise Hayes Smith | Raised Lon in Greenbrier County |
| Father | Delton Smith | Listed in family records |
| First wife | Patricia Altschul | Married in the early 1960s; marriage ended later |
| Son | Whitney Sudler-Smith | Born June 2, 1968; filmmaker and television producer |
| Later partner | Lindsley Wheeler Smith | Associated with Lon in his later years on the Eastern Shore |
The personal history reads like a small novel. Love, separation, public reinvention. Lon remained a private figure even as his family crossed into public life. He was at once a father in the old sense and a man who watched the world around him become louder.
Career, Work Achievements, and Professional Life
Lon Hayes Smith built a career in finance. The pattern is clear. He started with institutions such as Dun and Bradstreet, advanced through roles at Paine Webber, and later held senior positions at Morgan Stanley. Titles such as senior vice president appear in public recollections. A multi decade career in investment banking became his defining occupation.
A compact career timeline in tabular form:
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| 1959 to 1960s | Early career, Dun and Bradstreet |
| 1970s to 1980s | Mid career, Paine Webber and similar firms |
| 1990s to retirement | Senior roles, Morgan Stanley; retired as senior vice president |
Achievements in Lon’s career were less flashy than durable. He navigated decades of market cycles, regulatory shifts, and corporate restructuring. The mark he left was procedural mastery and professional longevity. He did not chase headlines. He built trust accounts, managed portfolios, and guided clients through seasons of gain and loss. In those details lie achievements that do not feed the daily news cycle but do shape legacies.
Financial Profile and Practical Wealth
Given that Lon works in investment banking, a solid financial base is implied. He worked for several decades in capital markets and wealth management organizations. The more helpful picture is qualitative rather than quantitative: a lengthy career, senior positions, and retirement in a cozy environment on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. His capacity to navigate between social groups, even those with prominent profiles, and small-town roots was made possible by his financial stability.
Timeline of Major Life Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 15, 1937 | Birth |
| 1959 | Completed B.S. in Business |
| Early 1960s | Marriage to Patricia |
| June 2, 1968 | Birth of son Whitney Sudler-Smith |
| Late 1970s | Marriage to Patricia ends |
| 1990s to 2000s | Senior roles at Morgan Stanley; career culmination |
| 2021-08-22 | Death at age 84 |
The timeline reads like a march of steady steps. Numbers anchor the story. They give shape and pace. Dates act as milestones, and milestones sketch a life that moved forward with deliberate rhythm.
Recent Mentions and Public Memory
Since his passing on August 22, 2021, Lon’s name has surfaced primarily in connection with family milestones and public interest in his son and ex wife. Mentions are often framed by the tension between private life and public persona. The conversations that mention him paint him as a steady figure in the background of louder biographies. In public memory he exists as a hinge between generations: the quiet architect and the visible second act that his family performed on stage and screen.
The Family in Context
The Smith family traces a path from small town Appalachia to cosmopolitan life and back to coastal calm. The narrative contains contrast. On one hand, there is the ledger and the boardroom. On the other, there is the social salon and televised drama. That tension gives the family texture. Whitney embodies the creative branch. Patricia brings social theater. Lon represents the steady trunk that sustained the rest.
| Family Member | Born | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Lon Hayes Smith | 1937 | Patriarch; finance professional |
| Patricia Altschul | 1940s | Socialite; first wife of Lon |
| Whitney Sudler-Smith | 1968 | Filmmaker; son of Lon |
Each person adds a color to the family portrait. Together they make a composition that is at once ordinary and cinematic.
FAQ
Who was Lon Hayes Smith?
Lon Hayes Smith was a finance professional born March 15, 1937 who worked in investment banking and was the father of filmmaker Whitney Sudler-Smith.
What were Lon Hayes Smith major career roles?
He held roles at firms that included Dun and Bradstreet, Paine Webber, and Morgan Stanley, rising to senior positions in wealth and capital management.
When did Lon Hayes Smith die?
He died on August 22, 2021 at age 84.
Who is Whitney Sudler-Smith to Lon Hayes Smith?
Whitney Sudler-Smith is his son, born June 2, 1968, who became known as a filmmaker and television producer.
Was Lon Hayes Smith married to Patricia Altschul?
Yes, Lon was married to Patricia in the early 1960s and the marriage ended later, with both continuing distinct public paths.
Where did Lon spend his later years?
He lived on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, with Easton, Maryland appearing as his last known residence.
