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Obituaries

Alex Smerkanich | Electrical engineer, 81

Alex Smerkanich, 81, of Hatfield, a retired electrical engineer and volunteer, died of heart and lung failure Friday at Central Montgomery Medical Center, Lansdale.

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Alex Smerkanich, 81, of Hatfield, a retired electrical engineer and volunteer, died of heart and lung failure Friday at Central Montgomery Medical Center, Lansdale.

A native of Schuylkill County, Pa., Mr. Smerkanich served in the Army in Central Europe during World War II.

For 25 years he worked for an electrical contractor in Philadelphia and then worked for 10 years for Urban Engineers in Philadelphia. He retired in 1991.

Mr. Smerkanich was a former scoutmaster for Boy Scout troops in Montgomery County and served on the board of District Council 43. In 1985 he received the Silver Beaver Award for his contributions to Scouting.

He helped found two churches, St. Mark's in Wrightstown and St. Philip's in Souderton, was active with the Lions Club in Hatfield, provided Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas gifts to the Indian Valley Opportunity Center in Souderton, and sent postcards every day to his six grandchildren.

In recent years he acquired a white beard and was Santa Claus for scout troops and nursing homes. He had a Santa twinkle, his wife, Helen Hanincik Smerkanich, said. The couple, who met at a Big Band dance in Schuylkill County, observed, their 56th wedding anniversary last month.

In addition to his wife and grandchildren, Mr. Smerkanich is survived by sons Mark, Matthew and Michael; daughters Marie Conver and Melanie; and a brother.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1970 Clearview Rd., Souderton. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery.