B. Smith, 70

B. (Barbara Elaine) Smith, known for her effervescent personality, her style, her TV show, and her restaurants, died on February 22 at the home she shared in Sag Harbor with her husband, Dan Gasby. The former model, the first African American woman to grace the cover of Mademoiselle, and owner of B. Smith’s on the Long Wharf, had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2013 after fumbling for words on a cooking show. Both she and Gasby were vocal proponents of raising Alzheimer’s awareness.

A full obituary will appear in a future issue of The Independent.