Former Make-A-Wish CEO found dead in Lake Hartwell

Russell Smith, the children's advocate, wish granter and former president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina, was found dead in Lake Hartwell Friday after his family reported him missing.

He was 57.

Smith spent 15 years as the head of the nonprofit that collects wishes from children with life-threatening conditions and raises the money to make them happen. More recently, he helped start EndAbuseToday.org, which aims to prevent domestic abuse using social media.

Smith lived in Greenville and had a lakefront house in Townville, said Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore.

His body was recovered off a boat ramp on Dyar Road two days after he was last seen alive, Shore said.

Investigators began searching for Smith after his blue Audi was found submerged in Lake Hartwell Thursday. Divers located his body Friday night, Shore said.

He was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and boat shoes.

"Sometime between 2 a.m. and daylight Thursday, we believe the car went in the water with him in it," Shore said.

He said Smith may have gotten out of his car but drowned trying to swim back to shore.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine whether the death was accidental, Shore said.

Smith had been suffering from medical problems and needed assistance walking, the coroner said.

He used a cane, which was found underwater with his car.

Jeff Dezen served on the Make-A-Wish board with Smith and said his friend loved fishing and boating. He even wrote a book, "Lake Hartwell: The Great Lake of the South," about secret, special spots that not too many people know about.

"Lake Hartwell was where his soul was at peace," Dezen said. "Russell had a big heart, a deep conviction for the well-being of children and a wonderful smile."

Smith was born in San Antonio, Texas, but grew up in Taylors and Greer. He graduated from Riverside High School and went to Mars Hill College on a football scholarship.

During his sophomore year, Smith called home from a pay phone to tell his parents he was changing his major from business to social work.

"It was silence on the other end," Smith joked in a 2010 interview.

Before joining Make-A-Wish, Smith worked as a probation officer for the Department of Juvenile Justice, counseling youth offenders and their families.

He later served as executive director of the Piedmont Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Among his accomplishments there was the Julie Valentine campaign and the public art sculpture that was installed at Cleveland Park.

Smith once guessed that he had raised more than $25 million for various charities throughout his career.

And he granted hundreds of wishes.

Through Make-A-Wish, children with cancer, leukemia, cystic fibrosis, heart conditions and any number of life-threatening illnesses were given the chance to meet movie stars and NASCAR drivers. They were flown to Disney World, given a camping trailer, had their rooms redecorated.

"I know we can't cure the child, but we can make a real difference," Smith said in a July 2000 interview. "That's what keeps me going."

Smith is survived by his wife, Susi, executive director of Communities in Schools, and three children.