Obituary of Dorothy A. Smith

Dorothy A. Smith (nee: Cerio) passed away on December 12, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was an inspiration to many, and her presence will be missed..

Dorothy started the MJ Peterson Commercial division in 1986, and became a pioneer for women in the commercial real estate space in WNY. Her steadfast resolve to accomplish her goals did not end when she found success, she pushed to advance the careers of all those around her. Dorothy lived real estate, she became personal friends with many developers and brokers in town and created a network of supporters that helped her achieve great success.

In 2012, Dorothy received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the WNY chapter of New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS® (NYSCAR). As the first woman to receive this award, Dorothy was proud to lead the way for a more inclusive industry. Following this accomplishment, Dorothy reached her highest career achievement in 2014, procuring the sale of an 875-unit group of multi-family properties, worth over $40 million. As a result, she received the coveted “Largest Broker-Assisted Sales Transaction” award.

As an advocate for cancer research, Dorothy bravely endured 50+ rounds of chemo over 15 years. Despite her battle, she always shared a positive outlook, an inspirational bible passage, or a joke to brighten your day. Dorothy mentored countless individuals throughout her career for the simple pleasure of watching her friends and colleagues grow.

Dorothy leaves behind her husband Joseph, daughter Sherry (William) Sam, Step children, Tracy, Robin and Nancy, 7 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a legacy that will continue to shine bright for generations. In her honor, we pass along a quote from her 2014 MJ Peterson Award Ceremony speech:

“Let this year be about you and what you want. Set your goals and let nothing stop you. Get to know everything there is to know about your business. No matter what, never give up…”

A memorial service will be held on Dec. 28th at 10AM in St Patrick's Episcopal Church, 1395 George Urban Blvd, Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Memorials may be made to CHC Learning Center, 1085 Eggert Rd Amherst NY 14226, where a grandson of Dorothy's attends school.

Words of sympathy may be made on www.LaingFuneralHome.com