| The Sandisfield Times | |
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Marcella Smith |
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| Published March 1, 2026 |
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Marcella Smith, a longtime veteran of the New York publishing and bookselling world, died after a short illness on December 20. Born November 5, 1947 to Harry and Phyllis Smith in Mason, Michigan, Marcella graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English and plans to be an English teacher. A student's evaluation that Miss Smith is "very nice but boring" sent Marcella in another direction. She arrived in Washington, D.C., in 1972, landing a job at the American Anthropological Society, where she was soon asked to leave on account of her "raucous, persistent, and entirely inappropriate" laughter. She then found her true path, taking a job as a sales clerk at the Globe, a small bookshop near the White House. It turned out that her life's calling was in the book business. She soon moved on to be manager of the hardback department at Brentano's main Washington store. She became a beloved fixture in the store, puffing away at Lucky Strikes as she kept track of inventory and the next big sellers, which she had a prescient knack for spotting. She had an oft-repeated refrain for big hits of the day such as Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough: "It might not be great literature but it sells like hotcakes." Marcella's big break came in the spring of 1974, with the publication of All the President's Men by Woodward and Bernstein. Everyone in Washington wanted a copy, and Marcella ensured that Brentano's had copies on hand to sell. Brentano's saw a star in Marcella, and she was promoted to the New York buying office. She switched hats again when she became manager of the Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich bookstore. Among her regular customers were Stephen Sondheim, Paulette Goddard, and Katharine Hepburn. With the store's closure, Marcella became a sales representative for St. Martin's Press and spent much of her time traveling around her territory in the Northeast and later served as Director of Special Sales before leaving for a tenure at Simon and Schuster. Herr final and long-lasting post was as a buyer for the Barnes and Noble bookstore chain, where she also served as Small Press Manager and head of Vendor Relations. Marcella helped hundreds of small press owners better navigate the world of publishing, a role she also fulfilled with the national Independent Book Publishers Association. She sat on the PMA Board from 1995 to 1999. For more than 25 years she served as a judge for the PMA's widely respected Benjamin Franklin Awards (now the IBPA Book Awards). She was instrumental in starting and nurturing the organization's Trade Distribution Program, which offered Independent Publishers Group distribution contracts to hundreds of small publishers. Smith was revered for her fair and honest assessments to help developing publishers improve their books and performance. Marcella's apartment on West 46th Street, where she lived for more than 50 years, was a gathering spot for legions of friends, more than a few of whom found temporary lodging on her couch as they settled into life in the big city. In 1995 Marcella began sharing her life with her wife, Linda Mironti, and the couple eventually divided their time between Manhattan and Sandisfield. They were both very active in the Sandisfield Art Center, and Marcella was quickly scooped up to serve as board president for two years. She also chaired the program committee for many years, helping to secure art center events. In their almost 30 years together, Marcella and Linda traveled extensively, often in connection with Linda's duties as co-owner of Il Chiostro, a company offering workshops and programs in Italy with a focus on art, culture, food, and wine. Marcella's final trip with Linda was to Venice just a couple of months before her death. On her return, she said she would always cherish the view of the Grand Canal from her window. Marcella is predeceased by her parents and her sister, Janet. She is also predeceased by her "sister in spirit," Jennell Cappo Sorrell, her friend since age 4. Along with her wife, Marcella is survived by Jennell's husband, Michael, and by their daughters, Elana Rudiger, Johanna Sorrell Vetter, and Alix Sorrell, who considered Marcella their favorite aunt. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. |
©The Sandisfield Times. All rights reserved.
Published March 1, 2026