David Smitka

David H. Smitka, 67, of Fourth Avenue, Tribes Hill, NY; passed away Saturday evening June 2, 2012 at home.

Born in Amsterdam, NY on November 25, 1944, he was a son of the late William J. and Mary Margaret Slappy Smitka.


David received his education at St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam, Tribes Hill Elementary School and graduated from Fonda Fultonville High School in 1963.

David was employed in the Turbine Assembly Division at General Electric Company in Schenectady NY, retiring in 2002. He also drove part time for Montgomery County Veterans Service Agency.

David was a parishioner and communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Tribes Hill, NY.

He was a member of the New York State Air National Guard in Scotia, NY for 12 years.
David was also a member of Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a firefighter, EMT for over 20 years, and held the rank of either Captain or Lieutenant of the Rescue Squad from 1976 to 1984. He established and directed the Tribes Hill Fire Department Explorer Post from 1982 to 1984. He was a Boy Scout Committeeman from 1988 to 1991 for Troop 34, Tribes Hill, NY. David was also a volunteer for Montgomery County Office for Aging from 2000 to the present and the Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc., in 1986.

David recently celebrated his 41st anniversary with his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Riley Smitka to whom he was married to on May 1 1971, Also surviving are one son James Francis Smitka (Priya) of Potomac Falls, VA; one daughter, Ann Riley Marrone (Nicholas) of Poughquag, NY; one brother, Richard Smitka (Georgiann) of Tribes Hill, NY; four granddaughters, Kiran Riley Smitka and Tara Elizabeth Smitka, Madelyn Danielle Marrone and Evelyn Jensen Marrone. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday morning at 9:15at the Riley Mortuary, Inc 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, NY; followed at 10:00 by a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Third Avenue, Tribes Hill, NY.

Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill. NY.

Calling hours are Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Riley Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in David’s name may be made to Montgomery County Office for Aging, 135 Guy Park Avenue, Community Hospice of Amsterdam, 246 Manny Corners Road, both Amsterdam, NY 12010, or to Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department.