When a longtime friend and fellow car lover faces Parkinson’s, community becomes everything. Kevin’s story is one of connection, resilience, and care — a journey that brought our Drive Toward a Cure family even closer, and one that will inspire a lasting legacy through our upcoming “Family Fund”.
Kevin Smith and I began our journeys in automotive PR around the same time. With a shared circle of car-industry friends, we naturally became friends ourselves — and even had a brief period working together. Through the years, whether in Los Angeles, Atlanta, or crossing paths at auto shows, motorsport events, and industry gatherings, our friendship always remained steady.
Later, when Kevin was with Genesis, he supported Drive Toward a Cure — simply because that’s who he was: kind, generous, and loyal.
Then, in 2018, Kevin called with unexpected news. He had been diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease. He was frightened and searching for answers. When he told me he was moving back to Atlanta, I connected him with our friends at Emory University’s Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence — including TammyJo Best and Dr. Stewart Factor — who immediately welcomed him. For Kevin, a new and very different journey began… one that would ultimately take him away from the car world he loved so much.
The beautiful thing about both the car and Parkinson’s communities is that, though they may seem vast and impersonal from the outside, they’re actually quite small and familial — filled with caring, generous people who truly show up for one another.
As Kevin’s symptoms worsened and his body began to take control, our friendship deepened in a different way. “Difficult” doesn’t begin to describe it. His mobility declined, anxiety and depression set in, and even after undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, the results weren’t what he’d hoped for.
Still, two things kept him going: his family and his love of cars.
He drew strength from watching his lovely and caring daughter Sophie grow, and his sharp mind never failed him — recalling endless car facts and industry stories from his years with Saab, Lotus, Cadillac, and Genesis. As a true “car guy,” he was the kind of PR professional journalists loved to work with.
About a year ago, Kevin called again. Things were getting harder. So, I did what any friend would do — I reached out to more friends. Soon, a circle of F.O.K.s (“Friends of Kevin”) formed, both near and far — people who offered not just donations, but their time, care, and compassion. Through social media, our “Everyone Needs a Kevin” fundraiser gained momentum, and within a week, we had support pouring in from around the world. Hope returned, and things felt a little less bleak.
Thanks to that generosity — and with help from Drive Toward a Cure’s Special Assistance Fund and our board member, ambassador and himself a Young Onset Parkinson’s warrior, Derek Torry — we were able to move Kevin into a better senior living facility, provide transportation to his Emory appointments, and ensure he had the essentials and comfort he needed. Derek became both his advocate and his lifeline.
Last Christmas, we called on the Atlanta car community for something special — not dollars for a fundraiser, but to create a “heart-raiser”. And on a cold, rainy Sunday, 23 local enthusiasts brought their cars and their compassion, forming a heartfelt parade beneath the porte-cochère where Kevin, beaming from his wheelchair, greeted each one with joy.
This past year grew tougher still. After another move and declining health, Kevin’s journey came to a peaceful close on November 11th, surrounded by love.
Our hearts are with his wife Agnes, daughter Sophie, and all who loved him. Kevin was a devoted family man and a true enthusiast of everything that moved him — from the cars he championed to the care and friendship that embraced him.
In 2026, Drive Toward a Cure will be establishing a Family Fund, with Kevin joining others we’ve lost and those still challenged, and his name will forever be rooted in its foundation. The fund will provide grants to individuals living with Parkinson’s — extending the same kind of help Kevin received, and that he so deeply appreciated.
Kevin was not just my friend – he was a shining example of someone who’s commitment never wavered – whether it was professionally, to his family, and most of all, to himself. He gave every inch he could and then some… and I’ll always remember his care for others and the heart that kept us connected through the decades.
Donations in Kevin’s memory can be made at drivetowardacure.org/fundraising/kevin.