Candace S Smith

Candace S. Smith (Comerford) PhD,RN,NEA-BC Smith, Candace S. (nee Comerford) March 30, 1963 - June 17,2024, of Punta Gorda, Florida, after a long battle with Cancer. Loving wife and Best Friend of 32 years to Bill Smith; dearest mother of Katelyn Forcucci of Davenport, Florida; Kristin Kopp (Greg) of Sykesville, Maryland; Will Smith of Hurst, Texas; Tracy Robert (Philip) of Frisco, Texas. Beloved Gigi to Cecelia Kopp; Natalie Kopp; Charlie Kopp; and Loved Nani to Tristin Spino and Ryan Zalmanoff, Loving daughter of the late Thomas R. and Maureen J. Comerford and sister of Thomas Comerford (Jim) and Jane Ervolino (Dave). Sister-in-law to Cherri Gattshall and Barbara Mittleman. Also survived by nephew Justin Kiernan and great niece Alyssa Kiernan. ln Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Lee Memorial Hospital Nurse Education Foundation of Ft. Myers, Florida. Candace S. Smith-31301l963- 6/L7 12024 PhD, Rn, NEA-BC Hospital Administrator Candace most recently was the Vice President of Operations & Chief Nurse Executive at Cape Coral Hospital for Lee Health System. She, along with her team, guided the Hospital through the Pandemic as well as Hurricane lan. Born in Bradenton, Florida, at a young age she moved with her family to Buffalo, N.Y. She graduated from St. Martins and Mt. Mercy Academy in South Buffalo and started her 30 plus year nursing career at Buffalo General Hospital after graduating from D'Youville College in Buffalo. Candace moved on to various leadership positions at Unity Health System, a 450 bed Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., culminating with her appointment as the Chief Nursing Officer. During these years at Unity, Candace received her master's degree in public Administration from the University of Brockport, N.Y. Candace was appointed to an adjunct position at SUNY Brockport, as well. Prior to moving to South Florida, Candace was named Vice president and Chief Nursing Officer for Medline Industries, a Medical Supply Company based out of Illinois. She then took the same position with Voalte, a Medical Communications Company in Sarasota, Florida. When the Chief Nursing Officer position opened at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Florida, she was excited to become the C.N.O of Manatee Memorial Hospital, the place where she was born. While at Manatee, Candace completed her PhD in Education with a specialization in OrganizationaI Leadership. While there, she helped lead the evacuation of the entire hospital during Hurricane lrma. Dr. Candace is the author of 'Chapter Leader's Guide to Provision of Care: Practical lnsight on Joint Commission Standards," a guidebook by Healthcare Professional Organization. She holds a board certification in Advanced Nursing Executive from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Candace is a nationally known speaker on topics of clinical excellence, speak up, and exemplary leadership. She served on the boards of the Southeastern Florida-American College of Health Care Executives, Florida organization of Nurse Leaders, and Chaired the State Chief Nursing Officer Council as well as the Florida Nursing Consortium. Candace was an adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University, where she taught Quality Management and Transforming Care in Complex Health Systems, she has also published a textbook, Healthcare Quality Management: A Case Study Approach with two other colleagues. Candace loved dancing and has always been a lover of music, her favorite saying was: 'This is my favorite song". Every song was her favorite.

A Mass at St. Therese Roman Catholic Church in North Fort Myers, Florida along with a Celebration of Life, will be celebrated in July at a time to be determined.