Indiana's Bernie Smith dies at 67

"He was probably the unofficial mayor of Indiana County," said friend Dana Henry, president of the county's chamber of commerce. "In terms of being an advocate, an ambassador for Indiana County, he was constantly proactive, positive, looked at what was best for Indiana County and never let his personal interests get in the way."

Bernard R. "Bernie" Smith, a former radio and television newsman who turned to politics, died unexpectedly Sunday while visiting his daughter in Potomac, Md. He was 67.

Mr. Smith grew up in the small coal town of McIntyre, Indiana County, and was proud of his roots.

"He never ceased to harken back to the days of what Indiana County used to be and the importance of seeing it needed to move ahead ... to make it a place where kids could stay," Henry said.

Mr. Smith graduated from the Milton Hershey School and served in the U.S. Army during peacetime.

Indiana County residents first got to know Mr. Smith during his career in radio news. He began at a station in Barnsboro with his popular program, "Bernie's Bombshell."

He later moved to Indiana stations WDAD and WCCS.

Mr. Smith owned his own television news production company and supplied news stories to television stations in Johnstown and Pittsburgh as well as the national networks.

Indiana County Commission Chair Rodney Ruddock got to know Mr. Smith during his days in the media and later through their educational ties. Smith served on the Homer-Center School Board, and Ruddock was a principal in the Indiana Area School District.

Ruddock said his colleague truly cared about people and that the public was at the heart of why he served in county government. Smith was in his third term as a commissioner. He was first elected in 1995.

"He served everyone with respect," Ruddock said. "He would work hard to make sure everyone was taken care of."

Former Commissioner James McQuown said Mr. Smith truly cared about people's living conditions and whether they had employment and educational opportunities.

"The thing I will remember most is his doggedness and his passion for the county commissioner job," McQuown said. "He loved that job. He was like a pit bull. When he got his teeth in an issue, he'd shake it until he got it taken care of. He'd never let it go."

Mr. Smith served on a number of boards in his role as county commissioner -- from the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board and Indiana County Community Action Agency to the advisory board of the Armstrong-Indiana Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program.

Westmoreland County Commission Chair Tom Balya knew Mr. Smith from their roles on the executive committee for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

"He was just a wonderful man, really dedicated to the people of Indiana County, and a pleasure to be around," Balya said. "He figured out ways of getting problems solved by cooperating."

Mr. Smith was recently elected president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, but he never got the chance to take office.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Gladys Poso Smith; two daughters, Bernadine Tragert and husband, Joseph, of Ipswich, Mass., and Brandie Smith and husband, Telly Michalopoulos, of Potomac, Md.; three grandchildren, Joseph Tragert and Chris and Alexandra Michalopoulos; and one sister, Dorothy Carlson, of Sacramento, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Nellie Slupek Smith, and a brother, Peter Arthur Smith.

Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, 500 Ben Franklin Road South, Indiana. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kent, with the Rev. George Saletrik officiating. Interment will be in the St. Bernard Cemetery.

Ruddock said he will meet with fellow commissioner Dave Frick to determine a proper remembrance for Mr . Smith. Ruddock has contacted Gov. Ed Rendell's office to secure permission to lower state flags to half-staff.

"He will be missed by all," Ruddock said. "It's going to be difficult to overcome his loss."

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