Mark Smail, 62, carried on the family automotive business, was active in community

While Mark A. Smail had the responsibility of operating the family’s successful automotive dealerships east of Greensburg, he also made it a priority to spend quality time with his family and enjoy life.

Smail enjoyed boating in the Florida Keys in the summer, going to the family’s lodge in Ontario’s lake region and skiing in the winter.

“He was always active. He had a larger-than-life personality. He was full of life, and people would gravitate toward him when he came into a room,” said his son, Marcus Smail.

His father, who was general manager of the Smail Automotive Dealerships on Route 30 east of Greensburg, had plans to “soft retire” at age 65, Marcus Smail.

“He wanted to enjoy life,” Marcus Smail said.

Smail, 62, of Unity, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Independence Health System Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, following a skiing accident.

He was born, Oct. 29, 1961, the son of Ellen R. (Leone) Smail and the late Clarence “Bud” Smail, who died in 2018.

Smail grew up in the automotive business. He worked at the family dealerships while at Hempfield Area High School, where he graduated in 1980, and during breaks at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, where he earned a business administration degree, Marcus Smail said. This was his 40th year working full-time in the dealership, Marcus Smail said.

Mark Smail worked with his father, Bud Smail, in growing the business with multiple dealerships along Route 30, a few miles east of Greensburg.

“He really was a leader,” Marcus Smail said.

Marcus Smail said his father was particularly proud of the opening last month of a new Ford dealership.

“It meant a lot to him,” Marcus Smail said.

Like his father, he was well-respected within his industry. In 2021, the Pennsylvania Automotive Association awarded Mark Smail a political advocacy award named for Bud Smail. The honor was given in recognition of years of supporting the association’s legislative programs and fundraising efforts. Mark Smail was in line to become the PAA’s president this year, Marcus Smail said.

He loved spending time with friends and family at their residence in Muskoka, Ontario.

Not only was his father a great storyteller, Marcus Smail said, but he also possessed a great memory. He said his father could remember details about the Pittsburgh Steelers from three decades ago.

Marcus Smail, his sister, Taylor Smail, and their cousins are the fifth generation of Smails in the automotive business, dating back when the Smails started in the 1930s in Jeannette.

Like his father, Mark Smail supported several causes, such as the Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, Westmoreland Food Bank, Troops First Foundation, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust and the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

In addition to his children, Mark Smail is survived by his mother; his wife, Kelly (Carr) Smail; a sister, Kathy A. Johnson; a brother, Jeffrey D. Smail; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Friends will be received from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Clement L. Pantalone Funeral Home Inc., 409 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Grace Church, Hempfield. Those attending the Mass are asked to go directly to the church. Private entombment will be in Mary, Mother of Mercy Mausoleum at Saint Vincent, Latrobe. Memorials in Mark’s name can be made to Paws Across Pittsburgh Animal Rescue, pawsacrosspittsburgh.com, or the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh; please make check out to PIND and mail to PIND, c/o MHSF, 3600 Forbes Ave., Suite 8084, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For online condolences, visit pantalone.com.