OBITUARIES
The most notable attribute of Harold Lewis Berkoben Jr., people agree, was his long-standing service to the Whitehall Borough community.
“I think his main passion was community service ,” said his son, Michael Berkoben of Durham, N.C.
A borough councilman for 16 years, Mr. Berkoben was known for his expression “the best committees are committees of three, where two of the members regularly don’t attend the meetings.”
Mr. Berkoben exemplified the man of action — mostly community projects he worked to complete, Whitehall Mayor Jim Nowalk said. Those projects included a beautification of the borough building with artwork he donated and the “Welcome to Whitehall” sign he had installed.
He also advocated for residents to place rain barrels along their homes to collect water as an environmental project.
Mr. Berkoben, 87, of Whitehall, died Wednesday while in hospice care.
In addition to his passion for community service, people also agree that Mr. Berkoben had a big heart.
“From the time I met [him] I knew he had a great capacity for love,” said Rosalie Kochenbach from Mt. Lebanon, a longtime friend who met Mr. Berkoben, or “Berk,” as she called him, during their time together at Geneva College. “I never knew him when he wasn’t in love with his wife, his son and what he did in his life.”
“It was a life well-lived right up until the end,” his son Michael, said. “He continued to serve his community at an age when most wouldn’t.”
Even after coronary artery bypass surgery in 2012, and a move to the Overland Green Assisted Living Facility in 2014, Mr. Berkoben continued to attend council meetings and serve his elected term for several months, without complaint, finally deciding to resign early to allow another qualified candidate to complete his term.
Mr. Nowalk said those actions were characteristic of Mr. Berkoben, who he described as a man of grit and dedication.
His son described him as “the antithesis of the grumpy old man,” emphasizing his warmth and compassion during his final four years at Overland Green.
Mr. Berkoben was born Aug. 16, 1930, in Pittsburgh, grew up in Wilmerding and graduated from Westinghouse Memorial High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War before graduating in 1956 from Geneva College on the GI Bill, but not before he met his wife, Joann Colteryahn. They were married for 59 years until Joann’s death in 2016.
Ms. Kochenbach, who witnessed their relationship blossom throughout college, said Mr. Berkoben treated Joann like fine china.
The first time that his father visited his mother’s family, her younger sister Judy said, “You better marry him. Because if you don’t, I will,” his son Michael said.
“He was probably the best looking man I’ve ever met in my life,” added Ms. Kochenbach.
Mr. Berkoben worked as a salesman for New York-based Batavia Publishing Co. and held other jobs throughout his career. Over the years, he served as manager, commissioner and president of the borough’s boys baseball and football leagues. In 1972, in a situation unusual for the time period, he started a girls softball league in the borough.
Among other community positions, Mr. Berkoben served as a Lions Club president. To celebrate his lifelong community involvement, Mr. Nowalk declared Aug. 23, 2014, to be Harold L. Berkoben Day in the borough.
In addition to his son, he is survived by several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 30, in Baldwin Community United Methodist Church, with arrangements through the John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, Pa. 15227.