Malcolm B. Smith (In Memoriam 1923-2022)

Human Rights Watch mourns the passing of Malcolm Bernard Smith on August 16, 2022, at the age of 99. Malcolm B. Smith had served as a Human Rights Watch Board emeritus member since 2001, after being an active board member for many years. Malcolm had served on the Boards of many other organizations including the New York Foundation, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Permanent Fund of the Modern Language Association, and Phi Beta Kappa Fellows.  He had been a trustee of the New School since 1982 and the chairman of their Board of Trustees for 10 years. 

 Malcolm had served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 and had degrees from the Dartmouth College and Harvard University.  He also held an honorary degree from the New School.

 Malcolm was the first chair of the HRW Board’s Investment Committee. His expertise in the early years as Human Rights Watch created an endowment helped to provide an important cushion of financial stability to enable the organization to weather difficult times. His wisdom and judgment added immensely to our internal deliberations, particularly concerning developments in Europe and Central Asia. We send our deepest condolences to the Smith family.