RMI VP Laura Smith dies at 43

Laura Smith

Laura Smith, VP and director of list management at RMI Direct Marketing Inc., died on April 5 at age 43. A memorial will be held in her honor on April 9 at the Green Funeral Home in Danbury, CT.

Smith worked in the direct marketing industry for more than 25 years, taking her first position at AZ Marketing Services Inc. at age 17. She spent the past 20 years at RMI, beginning in 1988. She also volunteered for industry organizations including the New England Mail Order Association, the Direct Marketing Club of NY, and the DMA Catalog Council. Laura was past president and advisor of the Hudson Valley Direct Marketing Association and most recently served on its Steering Committee. She also served on the board of directors for the Fulfillment Management Association (FMA), and was a trained instructor for the DMA List Leaders Basic Training Class.

According to a company statement, Smith had a reputation around the RMI offices as a lighthearted and kind colleague, who celebrated Halloween with homemade costumes and April Fool's Day with “infamous” pranks. She was a motorcyclist and had “many pet birds” as well, the statement said.

She is survived by her fiancé, Mike, her mother and a sister. In lieu of flowers, Smith's family requested donation be made in her memory to the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org/laurasmith.