Smith had been ill for some time. He passed away on 28 November.
He was the chairman of Goodspeed Communications and, with his fellow directors, built a number of successful businesses including multiple award-winning fine art printer The White Dove Press, Essex Colour Services and Colourlink, which was one of the first large-format inkjet printing firms in the UK and offered digitally printed wall coverings back in 1995.
The group was also an early adopter of desktop publishing in the mid-1980s and Smith was described as being “instrumental” in encouraging customers to invest in the Apple Macintosh platform for graphic design.
His son Damian, who followed his father into the industry, said: “Innovation and ideas came naturally to Leo who was passionate about fine art, typography, graphic design and all forms of print and their processes.
“Leo's other great love was for Italy, for their culture, people and ideals."
Smith regularly visited Mondadori and other Italian printers and on his retirement he started the Taste Italia cookery school in the magnificent grounds of the family home in Essex.
"There he welcomed schools, charities and businesses to learn how to cook in the traditional Italian way. His school was featured on Channel 4 and was often hosted by TV chefs.”
Damian Smith added: “He was also a great showman known for his dapper bow ties and could often be found entertaining clients (back in the ’80s) at his beloved Groucho Club.
“The group’s annual summer parties in the grounds of many a Cambridge college were a highlight of clients’ social calendars and would enjoy a whole day attending these grand events which included cricket, tennis and an evening ball!”
Paula Brown, now the marketing manager at pre-media firm EC2i, shared her fond memories of working with him.
She said: “I worked as Leo's right hand for over a decade: he will be remembered by me for so many things: he could be both inspiring or irritating, exciting or exasperating, funny or frustrating, brilliant or bullish. Never predictable… which was what made him such a challenge to work with! He was a unique and gloriously eccentric man, never to be forgotten!”
Mark Dane, who was the managing director of Essex Colour from 1990-2001 and is now chairman of EC2i, said: “I had the pleasure of working for Leo for over 25 years. He was an extremely charismatic and enthusiastic man, very passionate about the printing industry and even more so about new innovations.
“He was also a fine craftsman, although he had moved away from etching on glass by the time I met him!
“He embraced the challenge of steering the good ship Essex Colour from film and manual platemaking, to image and platesetters, Scitex and the digital revolution. He was the founder of the award winning White Dove Press and diversified Essex Colour's offering so that we were at the front of the technical developments that were rampaging through our industry.
“More than all of that he was an extremely good friend, excellent company and equally enthusiastic about Italian wine and food and all the finer things of life. He enjoyed life to the full and made sure everyone around him did as well, one of life's truly colourful characters. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Former colleague Richard Owers, now a director at Pureprint Group, said: “Leo was an inspiration to so many of us who worked at Essex Colour and The White Dove Press in the 1990s. His focus on high standards, his hard work and his good humour and warmth influenced our lives and careers in the most positive way.”
Another former colleague, Les Pipe, also paid tribute: “I was fortunate to work closely with Leo for many years in our time together at Essex Colour and The White Dove Press. He was an enormous personality and influence in pre-press, with a sharp brain and a keen eye for a business opportunity.
“It is true to say that I never had more fun (or worked harder) than I did with Leo. He showed everyone in his teams how to make coming to work a happy experience, and how to create and keep great friendships with his many clients. This is a very sad day for all who knew him, and my thoughts are with his wife Maureen, children, and grandchildren.”
Paul Sherfield, founder of the Missing Horse Consultancy and a competitor during his time at Ashdown Press and Ventura Litho, commented: “It’s very sad news. He was one of the best and most entertaining of those I competed with in the heady days of the ’80s and ’90s in the high-end sheetfed market.”
Smith was also an enthusiastic member and past chairman of the Wynkyn de Worde Society. Former colleague and fellow society member Philip Moore posted a tribute and said: “Leo will be greatly missed by all those that had the good fortune to know him and will be long remembered for his ebullience and enthusiasm – there was no-one quite like Leo for wonderfully bonkers ideas and a supreme talent for seeing them through, to the benefit of us all.”
Smith is survived by his wife of 60 years Maureen, son Damian, daughters Claire and Emma and seven grandchildren.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday 15 December at Our Lady and St Joseph Church in his local village of Stock in Essex. The family have requested donations to Marie Curie or Mind in lieu of flowers.
More details here www.leosmith.co.uk.
