Daniel George Smading

Daniel George Smading, 64, of Sarasota, Florida passed away on Friday, June 26, 2020 at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle, Georgia.

Dan Smading was born January 16, 1956 in Sidney, Montana to Don and Jean Smading. He was one of four children and spent his childhood in Bozeman, Montana and Miami, Florida. He is a graduate of Miami’s Westminster Christian School in 1974, Wake Forest University in 1978, and Cumberland Law School in 1983. Dan practiced law, worked in commercial real estate management and development, and consulted on political campaigns.

After graduating from law school, Dan was an attorney with the United States Department of Agriculture in Atlanta, Georgia. He served as chief legal counsel for the southern region of the United States Forest Service, focusing primarily on property rights issues. Dan also practiced law in the private sector in Miami, Florida in medical malpractice litigation.

In 1986, Dan returned to Atlanta and accepted a position with a commercial real estate firm where he was engaged in both landlord and tenant representation. In 1988, Dan joined Resurgens Plaza South Associates/General Electric Real Estate Equities in Atlanta as Director of Leasing. He negotiated all leases for Resurgens Plaza and Powers Ferry Landing West, key Atlanta properties. In 1997, Dan joined Richard Bowers & Co., a full-service Atlanta based commercial real estate firm as Vice President to Office Properties. Dan was a top producer in the firm and negotiated several of Atlanta’s largest office leasing transactions. Dan joined Atlanta-based OA Development in 2005 with the goal of opening the Florida market in commercial real estate projects, which he did with an award-winning relocation/development project for the Florida Department of Health in Orlando. Following this, he was involved in entrepreneurial project initiatives in transportation, prisons, and utilities infrastructure.

In 2010, Dan served as Senior Advisor to Florida Governor Charlie Crist on the Governor’s United States Senate Campaign. Interspersed with this, Dan was the Finance and Insurance Manager for a North Atlanta luxury independent automobile dealership. Later, he was the Senior Editor and web manager for Super Pac “HillNo”.org during the 2016 presidential election.

Dan’s life was characterized by love for God, lifelong learning, and devotion to family and friends. He maintained close relationships with life-long friends from younger years. Dan loved people, and daily met and served those he was with. The greatest joy in his life was his son, Daniel. In addition, his “band of brothers” from Wake Forest University days continually enriched his life, and he, theirs.

Dan well-understood his terminal diagnosis and was at peace with God. He sought and received spiritual counsel and his confidence was that the Good Shepherd, Jesus, would lead him safely through the valley of the shadow of death. During his final six months with stage 4 cancer, Dan battled the disease with grit and integrity, knowing that his true home is in Heaven.

Dan Smading is preceded in death by his father, Donald G. Smading. He is survived by his son, Daniel B. Smading; mother, Jean Smading; sister, Connie Musselman; sister, Karen Cannon; and sister, Kristi Devaney as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Due to Covid restrictions, a  private service for the family will be held in the days to come. Memorial donations in Dan’s memory may be made to Seven Rivers Church in Lecanto, Florida or Abbey Hospice in Social Circle, Georgia.

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