Former Jefferson Hills mayor, council woman remembered as dedicated public servant

Janice Cmar believed preserving opportunities for families and getting things done for her community made life worth living.

So much so that she spent about 35 years teaching in the Peters Township School District, and 24 more recent years as a Jefferson Hills elected official with stints on council and as mayor.

Janice Cmar died Jan. 6 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October. Her age was not released.

“Janice was the first person in the room, when someone needed something done, with her hand up saying, ‘I can help,’” said her husband, Dennis Cmar.

“She liked the rural character of the community, the hills, the green (and) the streams. One of the things she would talk about was to preserve the rural character of the community. This is where we raised our family.”

Dennis and Janice were married 39 years.

“It’s tragic losing her,” Dennis said. “She was the heart and soul of our family and the love of my life. … She has the most beautiful eyes, and the eyes are the window to the soul.”

Her soul was filled with passion for her family, her church and her community.

A member of Triumph of the Holy Cross parish, Janice volunteered at numerous parish events, including its fish fry and annual festival.

She also served as a member of the Floreffe Fire Hall Ladies Auxiliary, the Jefferson Hospital Auxiliary, the West Jefferson Hills Chamber of Commerce, and was a distinguished life member of the Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company.

She retired as a home economics teacher in 1991.

Borough service

Janice Cmar was elected to council four times and twice as mayor.

Council president Melissa Steffey said Cmar was deeply devoted to the borough.

“She was gracious, giving and always willing to help where she could,” Steffey said. “She will be sadly missed.”

She co-developed the borough’s inaugural web page, initiated its military banner program, and ran the borough’s summer program, among other accomplishments.

Dave Montgomery has been on council 20 years. He said Cmar saved the summer program and the borough’s cleanup day when both were nearly discontinued due to lack of support.

“Those are things nobody wanted to do, and she made it work,” Montgomery said. “That’s a high testament to her. She would take on any project that needed to get done. She was a very pleasant person, very welcoming to me when I came on council.”

As mayor, Cmar officiated 35 wedding ceremonies and donated all proceeds to the Jefferson Hills Library and Recreation Board.

She spearheaded the creation of the borough’s environmental quality board and initiated a “government day” at Gill Hall Elementary.

“When she needed to be a driving force she was, (and) when she agreed with the group she was a team player,” he said. “It’s still a stunning thing that she’s not here.”

Cmar was also a part of many associations and organizations throughout her lifetime, including the board secretary for the Pennsylvania Mayors Association, board member of the Allegheny County Boroughs Association, a 2020 graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy Program and president of the Allegheny County chapter of the Pennsylvania Home Economics Association.

Family memories

The loving wife and mother of two was able to see other parts of the world before her passing.

Dennis Cmar said when he thinks about their trips, a few things immediately come to mind.

One was a walk along the streets of Paris last year as part of a transatlantic voyage to Spain and other parts of Europe. Another was cross-country drives to the Iowa State Fair and Glacier National Park.

Janice Cmar also marked a culinary milestone on her European trip. She took a class at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Dennis Cmar said that many people from Jefferson Hills have reached out to the family.

“We’re very impressed and we are grateful for the community support,” he said. “Janice was about helping people and service.”

She was survived by her husband; son, Michael; daughter, Nicole; grandchildren, Teddy and Lilly; identical twin sister, Joan Butko Basden; uncle Raymond Butko; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Viewing took place at Stephen D. Slater Funeral Home. There was a Mass of Christian Burial at Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish.

People were encouraged to make donations in Janice’s name to the American Cancer Society.