B. Smith Passed Away!

B. Smith passed away from Alzheimer's disease.

B. Smith, the famed restaurateur, lifestyle guru and model passed away at the age of 70 of complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Her husband, Dan Gasby posted on social media confirming that Smith "died peacefully" of early onset Alzheimer's disease on Saturday at their Long Island Home.



Born Barbara Elaine Smith, the entertainer was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. From there, Smith and her husband (and mistress) made it their mission to spread awareness about the disease and the way it specifically impacted the African-American community.

B. Smith owned multiple restaurants in New York City and beyond, with her first, the one self named called B. Smith, opening in midtown Manhattan near the theater district in 1986. She owned other eateries in New York City. She own in Sag Harbor and Washington, DC. Those restaurants has since closed.

B. Smith announced she had Alzheimer's disease in early 2013. She wrote books chronicling her journey.

She got her start as a model in the 1960s appearing in TV ads for Mercedes-Benz and working as a spokeswoman for numerous brands including Palmolive Oxy and Verizon. She became the first African-American woman to grace the fashion cover of Mademoiselle.

Her husband Dan Gasby was a controversial figure. Folks hammered him for not honoring "til death do us part." He openly admitted to having a girlfriend while still caring for his ailing wife.

Gasby was dating Alex Lerner. Folks said Gasby's relationship with his mistress and earning profits off B. Smith's trademarks is disgusting.



He quoted The Game and 50 Cent's old hit, "Hate it or Love it."

Lerner was the caregiver for B. Smith before becoming the boyfriend of Gasby.

Gasby attracted controversy when he started dating the caretaker while being married to his wife, B. Smith.

B. Smith married Gasby in 1993. They were business partners as well as husband and wife.

He was then the executive producer of the Essence Awards.

B. Smith never had children but is step-mother to his daughter Dana.

She was married twice to former HBO executive Donald Anderson and later Dan Gasby.

She was born in Everson, Pennsylvania and grew up in Pittsburgh. Her mother, Florence, was a maid and her father William, was a steelworker. Smith was raised in Scottdale and attended Southmoreland High School, graduating in 1967.