Lebanon, NH – Dr. Alcott Leete Smith, DVM, died on Tuesday, August 10, 2026. He was born on December 6, 1938 to Robert Avery Smith and Bernice Minor Leete Smith in West Hartford, CT. The family moved to Rockingham, VT while Alcott was in his early teens. After attending Bellows Falls High School in VT, where he was an avid trumpet player, he attended the University of Vermont, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 1963. After practicing veterinary medicine for several years in Augusta, ME, Alcott moved to Hanover, NH in 1965 to establish the Hanover Veterinary Clinic, where he practiced for more than 30 years before “retiring.” He had a broad veterinary career, serving numerous family dairy farms in the twin states, household and wildlife pets, as well as volunteering for NH and VT wildlife agencies. He continued to practice veterinary surgery part-time until his death; however, in retirement he focused on his true passion: the natural world, studying plants and animals in their natural habitat.
A self-taught naturalist, Alcott was a tracker extraordinaire. On a given day, Alcott could be found leading groups into wilderness areas to observe bear, bobcat, moose or other fauna, and their signs. Alcott had a scientific mind, with vast understanding of, and boundless enthusiasm for, the natural world. These traits coupled with his wry sense of humor made each wilderness excursion an adventure for his companions. One lesser-known aspect of his life was his commitment to document and protect the wild rattlesnake populations of New England. He took great pleasure in sharing his knowledge of all things wild with anyone who spent time in the woods with him.
In his personal life, Alcott was an endurance athlete, who completed several 100-mile “century” running races, and many marathons, as well as an avid outdoorsman. He contributed, through scientific, policy and leadership roles, to several initiatives that preserved Upper Valley wildlands as conservation areas. Alcott is survived by his brother, Preston Leete Smith of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; his sister-in-law, Marystephanie Corsones Smith of Kingston, NY; his sons, Whitney Leete Smith and his wife Carmen Cordovez of San Francisco CA, Timothy Leete Smith and his wife Corissa Smith of Phoenix AZ, Cortney Leete Smith and his partner Mari Warnick of Flagstaff, AZ; and his grandchildren Sara Isabela, Sebastian, MacKenzie, and Ryan. He was pre-deceased by his twin brother, Avery. Donations in Alcott’s memory may be made to https://www.hanoverconservancy.org. A celebration event for Alcott’s life will be hosted by the family later this year.
An online condolence page is available to leave Alcott’s family a message of condolence by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.
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