Charles D. Smider 1941-2025

Born Dec. 12, 1941, in McKeesport, Pa., to the late John and Anna Chopey Smider, Chuck lived life with a twinkle in his eye and a stubborn streak wider than the Ohio River.

Chuck was a proud veteran of the Army Security Agency, serving from 1959 to 1963 and earning an honorable discharge as an E5. The military was a safer bet than facing his formidable mother, Anna, after a stint of college partying that didn’t quite pan out.

A son of hardworking immigrants, Chuck knew the value of a dollar and the sting of scarcity. As a kid, he tried to sell his younger brother Mike for a buck on a McKeesport sidewalk (no takers, thankfully) and cleverly told neighbors his mom was out of the baking business to hoard more cookies for himself and his brothers – burnt ones excluded, of course. His fondness for jackets, a family running joke, hinted at lingering childhood worries about having enough.

After the Army gave him some much-needed perspective, Chuck returned to college, where he met Marge, his partner in crime and romance. Their courtship was pure old-school charm: Chuck would scrape together enough for a date, sipping just a coffee so Marge could enjoy the evening and date. They married on Jan. 22, 1963, building a life rooted in love, hard work and a shared knack for entrepreneurship.

Chuck taught and counseled at Niles public schools for over 40 years, all while running a nursery and landscaping business with Marge. He was a blur of motion – watering plants at dawn, counseling his beloved students by day, chasing shrubs after school, cheering at his sons’ games and tinkering at the nursery by night. Even after retiring from teaching, he kept the nursery going, claiming it was his workout plan. His garden thrived and his barbecued pepper recipe was legendary — no fancy jar labels needed.

A man of unshakeable faith, Chuck was a lifelong member of the Orthodox church. He’d talk theology with anyone but never doubted God, pointing to the world’s beauty as proof. Stubborn as a goat? Maybe, but his heart was pure gold. Chuck was also a collector extraordinaire, powerless against a good deal. Coins, rolltop desks, pots, tools, seeds – you name it, he probably had three. His nursery was a treasure trove of “potential inventory.”

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Margaret Tesner Smider, the love of his life; sons, Vaughn (Kim Thomas) and Scott (Amy); grandchildren Brevin, Tatiana, Nate, Kay and Evan; sister-in-law, Bernadette Smider Gazda; and nieces and nephews, Denise (George) Glumac, Brian (Terri), David “Sam” (Mary) and Mark (Debbie Hill) Smider.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, John and Michael (late Nancy) Smider; and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Smider Grenier.

Chuck’s family will honor his life with a veterans’ service 2:30 p.m. June 23, 2025, at The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017 (Please meet at the cemetery by 2:15 p.m.).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Veterans Administration, www.cdceportal.va.gov/, an organization close to Chuck’s heart, or any veteran’s cause close to their hearts.

He’s probably already negotiating a deal for a heavenly jacket collection, so raise a coffee to a life well-lived.

Arrangements entrusted to Savolskis-Wasik-Funeral Home Inc., 3501 Main St., Munhall, PA 15120.

(special notice)