Denise Smith

Denise Berginson Smith, 62, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on April 28, 2024 after a heart attack. She was born on March 21, 1962, to Robert and Maria Hoar in a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. After studying with Dorothy DeLay at The Juilliard School, Denise graduated with her bachelor's and master's degrees in music in 1984. At age 22, as one of the youngest musicians ever to be offered a position in a major orchestra, Denise became a first violinist in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, where she played for more than 30 years. In 1987, while bringing her dog Sheba in for a veterinary appointment, she met her husband Michael. They went on to have a daughter, Alexandra. Denise is survived by Michael, Alexandra, her sister Darlene, and her nieces and nephews. She loved performing small acts of kindness; planning holidays and costume parties; and spending time with her family and many pets, though she preferred mammals to reptiles. She never met a stranger and would often talk on the phone with her friends for hours, even during labor with her daughter. She will be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, talent, warmth, and selflessness. Services will be held at A.S. Turner & Sons, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033 on Saturday, May 4th. The visitation will begin at 9:30 AM and the service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The World Wildlife Foundation or The Carter Center, causes about which Denise cared deeply.