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Be in touch with the beat of the heart” and “help one another” were lessons Lori Hummel learned at a young age. 

The Oakmont resident grew up as Lori Massbro in Pittsburgh’s East End and went to Sacred Heart High School in the early 1970s.

She studied under the tutelage of several educators including Sister Patrice Hughes, a teacher and former development officer at Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

“She would always say, ‘The beat of the heart is so important,’” said Hummel. “’Be aware, and be in tune (with) the beating of someone’s heart beside you and what they might be feeling.’

“All through school there was this big push about taking care of other people and volunteering, which we did all through high school. I guess that’s been ingrained in me, and my family was the same way. We were very active in the church and active in the community.”

Hummel’s parents, Mary and the late Gennaro “Jerry” Massbro, stressed connecting with and caring about others.

Hummel’s mother was a special-education teacher’s aid with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Her father was a World War II Army pilot and jazz musician.

Hummel recalled fond memories of walking around the Pittsburgh area with her parents and friends.

“Things seemed safer, a little slower,” Hummel said. “As kids, you were out and about a lot more. I think we had more freedom as kids to run around … My mom would open the door and we’d be gone all day long until it was dinner or lunch time. I think kids spend a lot more time in the house these days.”

That early sense of fellowship and love of charity would serve her well both professionally and personally.

Hummel graduated from Sacred Heart in 1974 and went on to earn a real estate license from Community College of Allegheny County in 1980.

It was between those years when she met her husband, Larry Hummel, who was studying business administration at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I fell in love with her,” Larry Hummel said. “When I saw her, I knew she was the one. We just clicked right away. Six months later, we were married, so, it was quick. We met through family members when I was going to school. We’ve been through a lot.

“Lori is a very self-driven person. She’s extremely organized, a go-getter. She’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to working. We have kids, and things progress from there.”

The Hummels lived in Penn Hills for about 20 years. For the past decade, they’ve called Oakmont their home.

The two have a son, Michael, and daughter, Sarah Taradash. Taradash is a yoga instructor at Be Yoga in Oakmont. Michael works as a dentist in Monroeville. They also have three grandchildren: Cicilia, James and Eric.

Lori Hummel has been with Howard Hanna Real Estate for more than 30 years. The sales assistant said its business model fits well with her values.

“I love working for them because of their community spirit and their activism and involvement in the community,” Hummel said. “I care about home and family. It goes hand in hand.

“I’ve gotten to know so many people in the communities I serve. It’s really important to me to make those communities as strong as possible. The communities where we live, where we work, the communities we call home. We can only make the communities strong by helping the people that are in need or not in the same position that we’re in. By helping other people rise up, it brings up the whole community.”

Hummel recently launched Howard Hanna’s 23rd annual winter coat drive in the borough.

Gently used coats, gloves, mittens, hats and winter apparel will be collected through March 1 at Rev 22 Juice & Wellness Bar powered by Salud Juicery.

The shop is owned by Larry Hummel, his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Jordan Taradash. It is in the former Oakmont Bakery building along Allegheny Avenue.

The family had its fifth annual Thanksgiving food drive last year.

Both the clothing and food drives benefit the Rosedale Food Pantry. The pantry helps an average of 170 families a week from Penn Hills, Verona, Oakmont, Plum and Blawnox.

Additional clothes may be donated to Verona United Methodist Church and Light of Life Ministries.

Lori Hummel also serves on the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce board of directors and has been a chamber member for about a decade.

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