DUNDALK, MD, U.S.A.
ADVERTISING ASST., THE CAPITAL GAZETTE, ANNAPOLIS, MD
06/28/2018, ANNAPOLIS, MD, U.S.A.
The joy of family, friends and workplace colleagues was the center of Rebecca Ann Smith’s life. Anyone who knew her knew she gave joy generously.
“Everyone loved her,” said a cousin, Tammy Kaskel of Dundalk. “Becca was always patient, supportive and never jealous or envious. She’d do anything for anybody and didn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
Rebecca Smith was an advertising sales assistant for The Capital Gazette. She was killed in the June 28 attack on the newspaper’s Annapolis office. She was 34. Rebecca was the daughter of Richard Smith and Beth Ann Malinowski. She was raised by her grandparents, William Malinowski, a driver for County Ride, and Catherine Malinowski, a homemaker.
Rebecca attended Battle Grove Elementary School. She graduated in 2001 from Sparrows Point High School, where she played field hockey, ran cross country and was an avid duckpin bowler. She was a graduate of Villa Julie College, where she earned a degree in marketing. Becca was the first person in the family to go to college.
Becca Smith suffered from endometriosis, a tissue disorder. “It was very debilitating, but she still came to the office and soldiered on through it,” Mr. Padden said. “She had a great sense of humor and was so charming.”
Rebecca was engaged to be married and share life with her future partner and his daughter.
“I found her to be a person of tremendous potential, and it is sad that we will never see her live up to that,” said Marty Padden, the newspaper’s advertising director.