District judge honors outstanding citizens in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair

When family members, friends and neighbors needed help, Gloria Levine was willing to talk them through some tough times.

Her preteen son noticed and asked, “Mom, why are you doing all that?”

“What, Allen, being nice?’” she replied. “You don’t know the problems that people have. So just be nice.”

Anyone who meets Allen Levine knows that he follows his mother’s advice, whether socially — he’s likely to remember his first encounter with you — or promoting the greater good by raising money and awareness for worthy causes.

In recognition of his efforts, Levine is the 2024 recipient of District Judge Ron Arnoni’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award for Bethel Park, having been nominated by local resident Ann Harder.

During a Feb. 28 ceremony in his chambers, Arnoni also honored public safety service employees in Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park, the two municipalities his district covers.

Bethel Park TV viewers will recognize Levine from his many on-air endeavors, such as hosting “Pittsburgh Sportsline,” the winner of 44 awards since its 2011 inception, and “The Allen Levine ‘The Talking Machine’ Show,” which carries his apt nickname.

In August, a special edition of “Sportsline” served as a fundraiser for the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. The effort was in memory of Levine’s mother, who died of complications of Alzheimer’s at age 55 on Aug. 17, 1988.

His support of National Kidney Foundation hit even closer to home: Despite seemingly good health, he received a 2017 diagnosis of Stage 4 renal failure. His son, Drew, stepped up and became a living organ donor, giving Dad a much longer life expectancy compared with receiving a kidney from a cadaver.

Further causes promoted by Allen include the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer Foundation Inc., honoring a Bethel Park boy who died of a brain tumor at age 8, and Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh Polar Plunge, helping the annual fundraiser reached the $1 million mark this year.

“He knows so many people, and he’s ready to help when he’s called upon,” Arnoni said. “And so I do really believe that this award is certainly warranted.”

Levine received an Outstanding Citizen of the Year medal from Arnoni, along with recognition by the Judges Association of Pennsylvania and a gift certificate from the restaurant Bella’s on Fort Couch, a longtime donor on behalf of the award’s winners.

Alexis Trbovich, field representative for state Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, presented recognition from the upper house of the General Assembly in Harrisburg.

Others who received medals from Arnoni were police chiefs Dave Arnold and Jon Wharton of Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, respectively; Dave Gerber, Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company chief; and Drew Gerlach, who has served the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department since 1998.

Arnoni also honored Tri-Community South Emergency Rescue Service, which serves Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and South Park Township. The judge acknowledged the spirit of cooperation among all the entities involved.

“It’s important to back each other up,” he said. “It’s important to work on mutual endeavors that are good for the community.”