Listed in "Who's Who of American
Artists and Who's Who of
Women, Wini founded Smart
Studio Art Gallery in Northeast
Harbor in 1967 and the Smart
Studio Gallery in Boca Grande in
1982. She helped to establish and
was president of Freehold Art
Society of New Jersey and Boca
Grande Art Alliance of Florida.
In 1984, Wini moved to Great
Cranberry Island and co-founded
the Great
Cranberry Island
Historical
Society's museum.
She served as
president for many
years and was
dedicated to
preserving the
island's history
writing many
publications.
She has written
several books,
including her autobiography
"A Long
Long Way." She painted eight
historical murals depicting the
Revolutionary War which are on
display in New Jersey, and illustrated
a book called "Early
History of Toms River and Dover
Township."
Wini Smart's book “Acadia and
Me” was also a big hit with her
fans. She wrote two books
specific to Boca Grande, one
called “Boca Grande and Me” and
another very well-known and
well-received book called “Whiddens
& Boca Grande: A Man, a
Place and an Island” that chronicles
several aspects of Boca
Grande’s history.
Wini generously donated much
of her art work to many charities.
She and her husband Fredrick
(whom she married in 2010)
founded a mission in the Dominican
Republic called "Real Kids in
Need.” When Wini and Fred visited
the DR they immediately felt a kinship
with the people there. Her
daughter, Debbie, and Debbie’s
husband, Mitch, were missionaries
in the DR, where they created
three churches and a Christian daycare.
Wini had the chance to live in
LaVega for two months and she
was inspired by the village, and that
in turn inspired her to continue to
raise money for the children there
up until her death.
In 2016 the State of Maine held
a special invitational exhibit to
celebrate Acadia National Park's
Centennial, and Wini and her
daughter, Gail, were featured artists
at the exhibit in the State House.
The artwork that was featured was
all painted in or inspired by the
National Park.
Until her death Wini continued
an active life of traveling, painting,
and overseeing the museum on
her favorite island.
Wini passed peacefully
surrounded by her loving family
after a long illness.
She was predeceased by her
parents, Lewis and Belle Smart; her
brother and sister Nicholas and
Louise; her son, Charles; and two
grandchildren, Ruth and Sean.
Wini is survived by
her husband, Fredrick
R. Quackenbush; her
sister, Miriam (Mim)
Bryan; children
Deborah Martinez,
Diane Polky, John Diehl
and Gail Cleveland-
Waite; 11 grandchildren;
and 14
great-grandchildren.
She was a member of
the Lighthouse United
Methodist Church of
Boca Grande and an
associate member of
the Cranberry Island Community
Church.
A service in Boca Grande will be
held sometime this season, but
meanwhile her work and her
passion surround all of us here
wherever we turn. There are so
many houses whose walls feature
her artwork, and there are so
many artists who turn to her work
for inspiration. She and her visionary
paintings featuring our island
will be truly missed.