Shawn Marcellino was running for mayor of Plum. He had just gotten through the Democratic primary and was looking forward to facing Republican Harry Schlegel in November.

On Tuesday, he was playing in a church league softball game when he began having chest pains. He died of a heart attack at Forbes Hospital.

People had nothing but good things to say about Marcellino afterward. He was a good man, a kind friend, a loving uncle, an enthusiastic sportsman. They spoke of the legacy he left with the people around him.

But maybe his legacy could be something bigger than his circle of friends. Maybe it could be an example to others.

Because Marcellino wasn’t just letting things happen around him. He was participating. He was involved. He was trying to lead.

More people need to follow those footsteps.

At just 40 years old, Marcellino was almost half the age of his opponent, the current mayor, but he was much closer to the average age of a U.S. mayor — about 58. That speaks to earlier involvement than many others seeking the office.

That kind of engagement is important, not just because elected officials are aging and more people need to get involved to keep local government functioning, but also because involved people are more connected to their communities.

We do not know if Marcellino would have won the mayor’s seat in five months. What we do know is that he was engaged enough to try, and that might be more critical than the final count.

People who are involved in one way are involved in others. They are people who see a problem and stand up with a solution. They offer help. They join committees. They try to make a difference.

Involvement is good for communities. The more people see themselves as part of what is happening rather than bystanders, the more they work together and support each other. Engaged communities vote. They have more participation in government. They volunteer and donate and share ideas.

But the federal Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion tells us something else. All of those things that are promoted as good for our society are also good for us. Voters report better health than non-voters. Volunteers have better psychological and emotional well-being than non-volunteers.

Marcellino may have died young enough to belie those findings, but really, his loss shows exactly why it is so important. There is no guarantee that waiting to get involved — until next year or when the kids are older or when you retire — will work out.

Marcellino didn’t wait. He was an active, engaged part of his community. He died doing what more people should do — connecting with others.

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