Smith

Melvin Albert Smith, 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, June 23, 2023, at Concordia St. Joseph in Baden.

Mel was born Jan. 7, 1937, and was the son of Viola and Andrew Smith of Pittsburgh. He was the youngest of four children and was preceded in death by his siblings, Myrtle, Norma and Van. Mel loved playing sports and working in his parents’ ice cream shop in Robinson, Pa. In addition, Mel and his father helped his brother, Van, build Stoughton Acres golf course in Butler, which filled his time in the summer breaks from school and even through most of his retirement years.

Mel graduated from Robinson High School with the class of 1955 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in secondary education and history at Slippery Rock College. He spent 35 years of his career as a teacher at Quaker Valley High School teaching junior- and senior-level history. One of Mel’s proudest professional moments was when he coached the Quaker Valley girls basketball team and led them to their first sectional championship in school history, and then on to the WPIAL finals. He also coached the first female golfer at Quaker Valley to ever go on to win a state championship in 1977. In 2016, Mel and his girls basketball team were inducted in the Quaker Valley Hall of Fame, which was a very proud moment for him.

Mel loved his animals, and he enjoyed a comfy rocking chair, black raspberry custard and always taking the scenic route on a drive. He loved spending time on his front porch swing where he always fed the birds. He took a lot of pride in his yard, which was always the best in the neighborhood. He also really enjoyed listening to ’80s music, which he did up to his last day, and he knew all the words to each song even with severe memory issues.

Mel will be greatly missed by his three daughters, their spouses and his grandchildren. His daughters are Mary Elizabeth Caverly (Brady), who called him “Pop” (a reference to “Laverne & Shirley,” a TV program they loved); Laura Smith (Lisa), who shared his love of ’80s music; and Rebecca Densmore (Rob), who took care of him during the last three years of his life and always made sure he had birthdays, holidays and time with his “grand pups.” His grandchildren include Galey and Noel Caverly, and Erica and Vianna Densmore; he also had a niece, Linda Trusnovic.

SMITH — All who knew Melvin Albert Smith, who died Friday, June 23, 2023, are invited to attend memorial services from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023. A small commemoration service will be held at 4:45 p.m. at SCHELLHAAS & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 1600 Stone Mason Drive, Sewickley.

Please leave all condolences at www.schellhaasfh.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.