Former Whitehall Councilman Harold Berkoben Dies

WHITEHALL, PA - Harold Berkoben cared about his community. That was evident by his 16 years as a Whitehall councilman and his involvement in boys baseball and football as manager, commissioner and president.

Whitehall recognized his years of community service in 2014, when Mayor James Nowalk proclaimed August 23 as Harold L. Berkoben Day in the borough.

Mr. Berkoben died on May 23. He was 87.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1930, Mr. Berkoben grew up in Wilmerding and graduated in 1948 from Westinghouse High School, where he was a lineman on the football team. He served in the U.S. Naby during the Korean War and attended Geneva College on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1956. At Geneva, Mr. Berkoben met Joann Colteryahn. They got married in 1956 and were wed for 59 years until her death in 2016.

Mr. Berkoben was employed by Batavia Publishing Company and was a past president of the Whitehall Community Lions Club. After his retirement, he and joann frequently spent winters in Charleston, SC.

Mr. Berkoben is survived by his son Dr. Michael S. Berkoben of Durham, NC; sister-in-law Judy (Charles) Dunaway of Gibsonia, and nieces and nephews Jodi (Ray) Lassinger, Matthew (Gina) Dunaway, Mark (Jennifer) Dunaway and their families.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 30, 2018 in Baldwin Community United Methodist Church at 11 AM. Arrangements handled by the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 4201 Brownsville Road.

Photo via John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc.

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