Community mourns loss of former Ocean City councilman

Doug Cymek passed away May 1

Flags flying at City Hall were lowered to half-staff earlier this week in honor of the death of former Councilman Doug Cymek.

According to an obituary released this week, Cymek, 73, died Monday at Macky And Pam Stansell House in Ocean Pines. Throughout his life, he worked as a contractor, private investigator and bail bondsmen, and served on the Ocean City Council for two terms, from 2008 to 2016.

At a council meeting Monday, Mayor Rick Meehan paid homage to Cymek, whom he has known for years.

“I actually grew up with Doug,” the mayor said at the end of the meeting after sharing the “bitter” news of Cymek’s death.

“I went to high school with Doug, I knew Doug for many, many years,” Meehan continued. “We grew up in the same development in Towson.”

Meehan added that Cymek served for years on the city’s Noise Board before his election to council, and through it all he remained the same, standup person who always put Ocean City first.

“He was just a good guy you could always count on and trust to do the right thing,” Meehan said.

During Cymek’s time on council, he consistently said his number one priority was public safety, and he championed policies that supported the city’s police department during his tenure. In 2013, just after election to his second term, Cymek became chairman of the Police Commission, where he was able to serve a more integral role in helping local law enforcement.

According to a Facebook post from Cymek’s daughter-in-law, Michele Hartley, Cymek passed away after a 10-month battle with cancer. In her tribute, she highlighted his love for God, his family and the Town of Ocean City.

Other officials who posted memories and accolades to Cymek on Facebook this week included Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crissafulli, former City Manager and Councilman Dennis Dare, and former City Councilwoman Mary Knight.

County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic, who served on the City Council from 2006 to 2010, also said a few words about Cymek during the commissioners meeting Tuesday.

“Ocean City lost a true gentleman yesterday,” he said.

Mitrecic said Cymek died after a “courageous battle with brain cancer,” and requested that the commissioners send flowers to the funeral.

Cymek’s funeral was set for Thursday morning at St. Luke Catholic Church on 99th Street, and the family requested donations to Ocean City Baptist Church School Building Fund, 102 North Division Street, Ocean City, MD 21842, in lieu of flowers.

Meehan ordered city flags to fly half-staff until after Cymek’s internment.

This story appears in the May 5, 2023 print edition of the OC Today.