Lisa Margaret Smith, who served as an assistant district attorney, and assistant attorney general and U.S. magistrate, and raised a family in South Salem, has died.
She was born April 25, 1955, in Hamilton, N.Y., where her father was a professor at Colgate University. She spent her childhood in Hamilton and summers in Chicago, Saranac Lake, and the Thousand Islands. A talented performer, she starred in numerous high school productions and was recognized for her musical and theatrical achievements.
She attended Earlham College, majoring in political science, and participated in theater, choir, and off-campus programs.
She earned her law degree from Duke University, where she was active in Moot Court and developed a lifelong love for Duke basketball.
She began her legal career as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, specializing in appellate work. She later served as an assistant attorney general in Albany before returning to Brooklyn as a supervising senior ADA. In 1987, she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in White Plains, prosecuting federal cases for eight years.
In 1995, Smith was appointed a U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of New York, a position she held for 25 years. Her family said she was a dedicated public servant, known for her sharp legal mind and commitment to justice.
Smith was also involved in church choirs and choral groups. She was married to William Bowen in 1994, and together they raised their children, J.T., and Kinsey, in South Salem.
A service in celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m., at the South Salem Presbyterian Church, located at 111 Spring St., South Salem.
Contributions in her memory may be made to South Salem Presbyterian Church, 111 Spring St., South Salem, NY 10590, and Earlham College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 801 National Road West Richmond, Indiana 47374 or at https://earlham.edu/giving.