With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Elizabeth Claire Smith, a beloved mother, wife, daughter and sister, valued teacher and tutor, and a shining beacon to her friends and family. On September 20th, Beth earned her wings to heaven after battling metastatic breast cancer for seven years.

Born in the late summer of 1974 to Norbert Maier and Ruth Greenberg in Pikesville, Maryland, Beth was a thrilling person to know. A lively, laughing, playful friend from a young age, Beth made sure fun was had by everyone in her circle, and her radiance nurtured an enormous assortment of loving friends, her husband and partner of nearly 30 years, Riley Smith, and two phenomenal kids, Mia and Evan.

Beth received her Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her Master's degree in Education from the College of Notre Dame. As a science teacher at Milford Mill High School and then as a private tutor, Beth nurtured a generation of kids in Maryland to love and excel in science and math. To know Beth was to know you were welcome somewhere, and to know you had a fierce and loyal friend watching your back. She adored animals, the beach, camping, concerts and shows of all kinds, particularly when she could get VIP seating. She loved to sing, cook, eat adventurous food, listen to music, travel, and play games.

Beth's love for her kids, the devoted care of her husband Riley, and her adoring community all sustained her as she struggled undaunted to be here for her loved ones as long as she could.

Beth is survived by her husband Riley, children Mia and Evan, father Norbert Maier, mother Ruth Greenberg, father and mother in-law Yoshi and Thom Smith, sisters Meital (Rick Kiley) and Noha Waibsnaider (Ian Kelleher), sister in-law Barb Smith and brother in-law Woody (Katie) Smith, nieces and nephews Oren, Lyla, Asher, Davia, and Henry, dog Lucy and cat Blueberry, and a large circle of family, friends and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Leslie's Week, an organization that supports families by gifting a week's vacation with other families facing metastatic breast cancer. https://www.lesliesweek.org/

A funeral service will be held at 11am at Temple Beth Shalom on Tuesday, September 26th, followed by a kiddush reception and Celebration of Life where her community can share memories of Beth. The funeral can be viewed virtually at: https://www.annapolistemple.org/worship/live-streaming/

The family will be sitting Shiva on

Wednesday at 4-7pm at the family's home in Sevena Park
Thursday at 4-7pm at her mother Ruth's in Pikesville
Thursday at 6-9pm at her sister Meital's in Brooklyn, New York