A Beloved Fashion Icon Dies at 70 After a Years Long Battle With Alzheimer’s Disease

The fashion and entertainment worlds mourned her deeply, the loss of a trailblazing woman who built a career across modeling, restaurants, publishing, television, and lifestyle branding. She died peacefully at her home in Long Island, New York, at age 70, following years of living with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Her husband, Dan Gasby, announced the heartbreaking news in February 2020, saying she had died. He expressed gratitude to doctors, hospice workers, caregivers, friends, and fans who had helped the family throughout her illness and asked people to respect their privacy during their difficult final days.

The diagnosis had come years earlier. She learned that she had early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2013 but did not announce it until 2016. By speaking openly about her condition, she hoped to increase awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding a disease that affects millions of families.

Long before her diagnosis, she had established herself as a pioneering model. She became only the second Black woman to appear on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine, marking an important achievement during a period when opportunities for Black models were limited.

Her career expanded far beyond fashion. After stepping away from modeling, she became a restaurateur and opened three restaurants. She also developed a reputation as a cookbook author, publishing several books that combined food, entertaining, and lifestyle advice.

Television provided a major platform for her talents. She hosted B. Smith With Style, a half hour program that reflected her interests in cooking, decorating, entertaining, and personal style. The show helped introduce her personality and expertise to an even audience.

She also entered the home goods business, launching her product line through Bed Bath and Beyond. Her ability to move between fashion, food, television, and business demonstrated the breadth of her creative career.

Her Alzheimer’s journey became an important part of her public story. By sharing her diagnosis, she helped encourage conversations about early onset Alzheimer’s and the emotional challenges faced by patients and caregivers.

Her husband later described her diagnosis as one of the hardest experiences he had ever faced. During her illness, the family also attracted public attention because of his relationship with another woman and the living arrangements surrounding their East Hampton home. The situation generated criticism and intense discussion online.

Despite the controversy surrounding her final years, her achievements remained significant. She had built a career that crossed multiple industries and became known for elegance, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and creativity.

Her passing prompted reflections on a woman who had spent decades creating opportunities for herself while inspiring others through her work. Her openness about Alzheimer’s also gave greater visibility to a condition that is difficult for families to discuss publicly.

The model, restaurateur, author, television host, and lifestyle entrepreneur remembered for breaking barriers in fashion and building a diverse career was B. Smith, whose legacy continues through her work, lasting cultural impact, and the awareness she helped create around Alzheimer’s disease.