By JIM HUNT
For the Harrison County Journal
The passing of Albert Marano hit me harder than I expected.
Maybe that is because, no matter how many years passed, I never quite stopped seeing Albert as the smiling little boy who lived right down the alley from the house where I grew up in the Montpelier neighborhood of Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Albert’s family lived close enough that they were part of the rhythm of our neighborhood. His parents, Albert Sr. and Arphena, were wonderful neighbors. I can still picture his dad working in the garden on a Saturday morning and his mother hanging clothes on the backyard clothesline. Those were simple scenes, but they were the kind of scenes that made a neighborhood feel like home.
When Albert was born, you could sense the love and pride his parents had for him. He was about ten years younger than me, so I remembered him first as a joyful boy with a big smile on his face. When the older kids were at the playground playing basketball, Albert would be nearby, watching and waiting for his turn to become the “big kids.”
Like so many young people in our neighborhood, we all moved through different stages of life. I got married, started working, and became busy with the responsibilities of adulthood. But I would still see Albert from time to time, and that smile was always there.
I remember the first time I saw a deputy’s cruiser parked in front of his house. I learned that Albert had graduated from the Police Academy and was a rookie deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. I remember thinking, “How will that little kid from our neighborhood do as a law enforcement officer?” Would that big smile and friendly personality be able to handle the stresses and strains of life as a cop?
It did not take long to get the answer.
Albert not only handled the job, he embraced it. I never passed his house without stopping to talk with him, and you could tell how much he loved his career and how seriously he took the responsibility of serving the public. He was proud to wear the uniform, but he never let the uniform change who he was.
During my years as Mayor and Councilman, I often saw Albert at public events. He was always professional, always steady, and always respected. Over time, he advanced in rank and responsibility, eventually becoming Chief Deputy. Throughout Harrison County, he developed a reputation as a fair, disciplined, and capable officer.
In West Virginia, a sheriff can only serve two four-year terms. When the previous sheriff completed his service, Albert decided to run for Harrison County Sheriff. I remember talking with him about stepping into the political world. Albert’s approach was simple and honest. He told me he was just going to be himself and hoped the voters would recognize that his main job would be to serve the public in a fair and equal manner.
That was Albert.
He was not trying to become someone else. He was not trying to create a political image. He was simply offering the people of Harrison County the same qualities he had shown all his life: honesty, fairness, discipline, kindness, and a sincere desire to serve.
The voters saw that in him. Albert won the race and went on to serve two terms as Sheriff of Harrison County, from 2008 through 2016. During his service, he was admired throughout the community and also served on the West Virginia Sheriffs Association Board of Directors.
Albert’s life of public service did not end there. He later ran for Harrison County Circuit Clerk and continued serving the citizens in that role from 2016 until his passing.
Along the way, Albert built a beautiful life with his wife, Kelly, whom he married in 1992. Together, they raised two daughters, Gina and Sara. To those of us who watched Albert grow from the little boy in the neighborhood to a respected public servant, it was a joy to see him become a husband, father, law enforcement leader, elected official, and trusted friend to so many.
Albert Frank Marano Jr., 64, of Quiet Dell, passed away on April 16, 2026, with his family by his side, following a courageous battle with colorectal cancer. He was a graduate of Notre Dame High School and Fairmont State University, and he devoted more than 30 years of his life to law enforcement and public service.
In today’s world, politics can be bitter. Public service can be harsh. The noise can sometimes drown out the simple goodness of people who serve for the right reasons.
Albert Marano never lost that goodness.
He stayed true to his nature. He kept his smile. He treated people fairly. He served with dignity. He understood that holding public office was not about status, but about responsibility.
For me, Albert’s passing brings back a flood of memories. I think of his parents, proud and loving. I think of the Montpelier neighborhood, where everyone knew everyone. I think of the little boy watching the older kids play basketball, waiting for his chance to join in.
And I think of the man he became.
Albert Marano served Harrison County well. He served his family well. He served his community with honor.
But for those of us who knew him long before the titles and offices, we will also remember that joyful boy with the big smile.
And somehow, I believe that smile is what Harrison County will remember most.
