Jane Adele Smith

Jane Adele Newberry Smith (“Janie”) was born at Mercy Hospital, San Diego, on March 12, 1946, the only child of Ima Jane and Delbert Newberry; passed away June 21, 2025. She graduated from Crawford High School and received her BA and lifetime teaching credential from San Diego State College, where she belonged to Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She married Geoffrey Beach Smith at First United Methodist Church, Mission Valley, in August of 1968 and taught 3rd grade for the SDUSD.

While married, Jane relocated to Dallas, Texas, for 26 years, where she was in the Parent's Club at her son Gentry's school, St. Mark's School of Texas, and also held offices in the Preston Hollow Women's Club and served as a Cub Scout leader. After her divorce, she spent several years as a paralegal and found a career in commercial real estate, moving back to San Diego in 2000 to earn her realtor's sales license. She met Marty Lederer in 2002 and stayed with him for the rest of her life, enjoying travels together in Europe, Costa Rica and Australia. In retirement, she drove elders and the disabled for JFS, relished lunch with friends, loved to spoil her and Marty's cat “Pip”, and volunteered with The Hunger Project at Father Joe's. She and Marty were members of Congregation Beth Israel and enjoyed friendships with members throughout the years.

To her neighbors, friends and family, Jane was known as a kind host, for her great cooking and baking skills, and for her thoughtful gift-giving. If she wanted to gift someone a stuffed animal, it couldn't come from just anywhere - she had to drive to the San Diego Zoo to pick it out of the gift shop herself. While serving with The Hunger Project at Father Joe's, she was the head greeter who would make everyone feel welcomed and supported before they ate.

Jane's kindness lives on in her son, Gentry Beach Smith, his wife, Dian Cesena, her grandson, Ravi, and her loving companion of many years, Marty Lederer and his extended family, as well as several cousins and friends in Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Father Joe's Hunger Project (c/o Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA 92122) or a charity of your choice.