Stephen E. Smith; Kennedy Relative, Campaign Chief

Stephen E. Smith, brother-in-law and campaign manager of President John F. Kennedy, has died at his Manhattan home after what a Kennedy family spokesman described only as a long illness. He was 62 when he died Sunday.

Smith, the husband of Jean Kennedy Smith and a financial analyst, managed Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign and served as adviser to members of America’s most famous family. He also aided the development in Boston of the John F. Kennedy Library.

“For 34 years, from the day he married Jean, Steve was like a brother in our family,” said Sen. Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy (D-Mass.), who was with Smith when he died. “He was the wisest adviser and the most skillful campaign manager and the best friend that any of us ever had.

“There wouldn’t have been a Camelot without Steve Smith.”

Smith also managed the Senate campaigns of Edward Kennedy and his assassinated brother, Robert.

Besides his wife, Smith is survived by two sons and two daughters, all of whom were with him at his death.