Jeffrey D. Smail was a man who worked hard in his family’s successful automobile dealerships east of Greensburg while dedicating himself to his family and enjoying traveling around the world with his wife.
“He was one of the most kind and caring and generous persons. He made everyone feel welcome. He was generous with his time,” said his wife, Loni Smail.
Jeffrey Smail, 59, of Unity, died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
He was born Jan. 8, 1965, in Greensburg, a son of Ellen Smail and the late Clarence (Bud) Smail Jr. Smail was a 1983 graduate of Hempfield Area High School, where he was a wrestler.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and automotive marketing from Northwood University, Midland, Mich. After graduating in 1987, he joined the family business, where he worked for more than 30 years.
His education was well- suited to his career because he knew he was going into the family business, Loni said.
But, being part of the family that owned the dealerships did not exempt him from learning the automotive industry from the ground up. His father he did not start him out in the executive suite.
“He was washing cars. He worked in the service department, in sales and management. He was learning the industry,” Loni said.
He was co-owner of the auto group for 30 years.
Smail, like other family members, spent summers as a youngster in the family’s cottage on a lake in Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. It’s where his family had been enjoying the lake since the early 1900s. There, he enjoyed water activities including boating, swimming and water- skiing. He was an excellent water-skier and even performed in the local ski show as a child.
Loni said they liked to go to the Florida Keys in the winter, where he enjoyed spending a lot of time on the boat.
They traveled the world, going to London, South Korea, the British Virgin Island and cruising the Mediterranean Sea.
She said her husband particularly lit up when their two grandchildren were around him.
“He was like the Energizer Bunny. He went and went and went,” Loni said.
In addition to his father, he also was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Smail, who was general manager of the auto group when he died on Feb. 17, 2024, following a skiing accident.
In addition to his mother and wife, Smail also is survived by a son, Jeffrey (Amanda) Smail of Unity; a daughter, Ally (Christian) Trueax of Unity; two grandchildren; his sister Kathryn (Ronald) Johnson of Sewickley; a sister- in-law, Kelly Smail of Unity; as well as nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Grace Church, Mt. Pleasant Road, Hempfield. Those attending are asked to go directly to the church. Private entombment will follow in Mary, Mother of Mercy Mausoleum at Saint Vincent Cemetery in Unity. Memorials in Jeffrey Smail’s name made to multiple system atrophy research at missionmsa.org. The Clement L. Pantalone Funeral Home, Inc. in Greensburg is in charge of the arrangements.