Former Grayslake Mayor Dies At Age 79

GRAYSLAKE, IL — A former village of Grayslake mayor recently died at the age of 79.

Marvin "Marv" Smith was first elected as mayor in 1989 and served a four-year term. Prior to that, he was picked to sit on the village board several times over an 18-year period and served on the village's planning commission and zoning board of appeals, village officials said this past week.

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Smith was the general chairman for the village’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration and was very proud of his involvement in a variety of community service organizations, including Illinois Education Association, National Education Association, Grayslake Historical Society, American Librarians Association, Actors Equity Union, Grayslake Faculty Association, Grayslake Jaycees and the Grayslake Lions Club, according to a news release from the village of Grayslake.

"Mayor Smith was truly dedicated to serving his community, whether it was holding elective office, supporting a variety of civic and service groups or educating future generations.Grayslake is truly better today because of his service" village of Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor said.

Marv graduated from Grayslake High School in 1958. He graduated from Northern Illinois University and began his teaching career as a librarian in the Crystal Lake school
system.

He transferred to Grayslake Community High School where he spent his 30-year
career serving in a variety of positions including instructional materials director, librarian,
teaching speech and computer science, retiring in 1993. During that time, Marv returned to NIU
earning a master’s degree in instructional materials in 1970.

Marv died on March 26 in Arizona.

A service to celebrate his life is planned for Friday starting at 10 a.m. at the Camino Del Sol Funeral Chapel, 13738 Camino Del Sol, Sun City West, AZ 85375. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 410 Grand Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085.

Smith's full obituary can be found online.