Sewickley patrolman Mark Smilek remembered for dedication, bringing joy to others

A Sewickley police officer who died after battling leukemia the past seven years is being remembered as a protector who brought joy to many.

Part-time Officer Mark Smilek was a former Pentagon police officer who was at the facility during the 9/11 attacks, with a law enforcement career that spanned more than 25 years.

He was hired by Sewickley in October 2016 and was diagnosed with cancer in May 2017.

“He’s one of ours and we lost one of ours,” said Sewickley Mayor George Shannon.

Smilek, 50, of Brighton Township died in the early morning hours of Jan. 7 at Good Samaritan Hospice at Heritage Valley.

Police Chief Dave Mazza said his department is on a roller coaster of emotions, a trip full of tears and smiles recalling Smilek’s service.

“This is a guy that’s fighting leukemia pretty much since he got hired here that continued to take shifts on his good days and when he was able to,” Mazza said. “That speaks volumes to his work ethic and his character.

“(The department’s attitude) goes from kind of somber to moments of laughter talking about different things. In eight years you forget more than remember. Then, when you get into a group and discuss different times, you bring up all these different stories.”

Smilek served as police chief of the Ohioville Police Department prior to coming to Sewickley. He was also a member of the Beaver Valley Chiefs of Police Association, Pennsylvania Association of School Resource Officers, the NRA and the Steel Valley Lodge.

“Mark was a great asset to me,” Mazza said. “He was someone within the department that I could go to if I needed advice or had a question and lean on his past experiences as a chief of police. …I’m glad he doesn’t have to fight any more; going to miss him though.”

Smilek would have become a full-time officer, but could not pass the physical agility test due to medical reasons.

Mazza worked with Smilek’s family and the on funeral arrangements.

Smilek’s wife, Dr. Hilary Jones, a pediatrician with Heritage Valley Health Systems, said they were married for eight years.

“We were introduced by mutual friends,” Jones said. “He’s just so easy going and calm and happy. He just always made me feel safe.”

They had no children together; however, Jones has two daughters.

She said Smilek would always think of others first and downplay any problems as to not inconvenience people.

“He doesn’t complain,” Jones said. “A lot of times he would minimize his symptoms so much that I would have to go with him to his doctor’s appointments to make sure they were fully aware of everything that’s going on.

“Anytime he’d be in the hospital, which he was in the hospital a lot, he didn’t want visitors because he didn’t want to be fussed over. He didn’t want people to have to go out of their way for anything. Sometimes he wouldn’t even tell people he was in the hospital.”

Jones said he was quietly going around to friends and family saying goodbye without them knowing it would be for the last time. Smilek entered hospice care several months ago.

“We knew this was coming, but you never know how you’re gonna feel whenever it actually hits,” Jones said of Smilek’s passing. “He was a big presence. … He was really one of those police officers who would run into danger just because that was his duty and his job and he would have done it willingly.”

Council President Cynthia Mullins also offered her condolences to Smilek’s family.

“I’m sad to hear it,” she said. “I know it affects the department and it sounds like he was an outstanding guy.”

Smilek also was a school resource officer for Baden Academy Charter School for about three years.

“He was one of the finest men I’ve ever met and he’s already missed,” said Michelle Lennon, academy CEO.

“He was amazing. Safety was always his number one concern. He was always finding areas that needed to be improved or was walking about, making sure he was always visible.”

Smilek would often stop and play rock/paper/scissors with students. There are about 600 students in the K-6 school.

Classes are divided into four different color houses. Smilek was stationed in the black house, also called Alturismo.

Each house has activities to promote social interaction and they sometimes compete with each other for a school championship. Alturismo won in 2022.

Lennon also recalled Smilek’s unique sense of humor and some of the practical jokes he would play.

One time her favorite pen was gone.

Smilek posted missing pen posters and made a mock arrest when it was discovered a principal had took it. Smilek also sent Lennon a box with an engraved pen as a Christmas gift.

He would sometimes drive students home if they missed the bus and their parents did not have cars to come pick them up.

The academy will host a Blackout Day Friday, encouraging students and staffers to wear black in memory of Officer Mark, as well as participate in a rock/paper/scissors tournament.

Smilek was also known as an outdoorsman, an avid hunter and fisherman.

Sewickley council had a moment of silence for the late officer at its Jan. 9 meeting.

Funeral plans

A viewing is planned for 2-7 p.m. Friday at the Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls.

A blessing service is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the funeral home Saturday with the Rev. Kim Schreck as celebrant.

Multiple police departments are expected to participate in a procession from the funeral home to internment at Beaver Cemetery.

The procession is being coordinated by Sewickley Police Department and the Beaver Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge.

Jones said she is grateful for the outpouring of support from the law enforcement community.

“I think he would have been very honored and very proud,” Jones said. “In life, he would have never asked for this or expected it, but he deserved it.”