Willie Weber is a giver.
The Arnold man has dedicated his life to public service, working at various Alle-Kiski Valley police departments and volunteering as a firefighter in Arnold.
After decades of putting his energy into supporting his community and surrounding communities, Weber, 65, is now the one receiving support.
Diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in September, Weber’s medical journey has caused him to step down from his part-time police positions with the Parks Township, Vandergrift and West Leechburg departments, as well as his part-time job driving charter buses for Myers Coach Lines in Export.
A fundraiser to benefit the longtime public servant is planned for Saturday, March 29 at the Parks Volunteer Firehall.
Weber said transitioning to a mindset of accepting help has been difficult, despite being grateful for everyone who has reached out to him.
“It’s been very emotional,” he said.
Weber said he decided to see a doctor for what he suspected was a hernia. Two days later, his surgeon decided to order a CT scan before scheduling surgery.
“The results of the CT scan came. I didn’t have a hernia. I have cancer,” Weber said. “That started a journey and ended my four part-time jobs.”
A lifetime of service
Weber has become well-known throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley for working as a police officer, most notably 35 years in Arnold. He started there in 1981 and retired as police chief in 2015. Before that, he was a patrolman, sergeant and detective.
His retirement was brief. Six days later, he started as a part-time officer with the Vandergrift Police Department, then, a year later, began working for the Parks Township Police Department. Weber was sworn in as West Leechburg’s part-time police chief in 2022 and served there until the position dissolved March 1 when the borough contracted police coverage from Allegheny Township.
“I think that’s what I was here for,” Weber said. “I wouldn’t change a moment in my life, to be honest.”
His span of more than five decades as a volunteer with Arnold Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 started in 1974 and included 10 years — 1994 to 2004 — as chief.
Through his public service, Weber has become a staple in a quite few neighborhoods. He said, as an Arnold firefighter, he used to drive newlyweds around the city and make french fries every Labor Day at Northmoreland Park.
He misses the work.
“Who knows? I get out the other end, and I might still be with them guys and driving my bus, looking at the country through a windshield,” Weber said.
All hands on deck
It wasn’t long after Weber’s diagnosis that he began receiving calls and messages from people who wanted to help. Some were folks he hadn’t seen or spoken to in years, he said.
Nadine Artman said she met Weber about 10 or 15 years ago when she was volunteering at the Vandergrift Fire Department while he was a borough police officer. When she heard about his diagnosis, Artman didn’t hesitate to put together the fundraiser.
“He’s just an all-around great guy. He’d bend over backwards for anybody whether he knew you or not. He’d do whatever he could do for anybody,” Artman said. “This is just a minor way to give back to him after all he’s given to us.”
Artman said there has been no difficulty getting help for the event. The Parks Township supervisors donated the township’s social hall, Box Alarm BBQ will be donating food for the event and two bands, 56 East Band and Lenny Collini Family Pack, will perform.
Artman said people from throughout Weber’s life have reached out to her to lend their support. Some of his nurses at UPMC St. Margaret hospital volunteered to help Saturday , she said.
“It truly means a lot to me,” said Weber’s daughter, Rachel Paiano. “I don’t really have words for it.”
Much like her father, Paiano said, she has received messages of support and offers of help from people she had lost contact with years ago.
“He’s always been the giver. He always puts everybody else before himself,” Paiano said. “I mean, growing up, he was always the one that provided for us. To see everybody else step up to help him whenever he’s unable to provide for himself as much as he used to, it’s heartfelt, honestly.”
She has been left speechless more than once by the generosity of others during her father’s journey.
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But it shouldn’t come as a surprise, given everything he has done in the community.
“It tells me I must’ve done my job and my volunteer work very well,” Weber said. “I’m a little beside myself. Thank you isn’t going to go far enough.”
Keeping up the battle
In addition to Paiano, Weber has a son, Patrick.
Weber calls his five grandchildren — one grandson and four granddaughters — his king and queens. He has every intention of helping them navigate life in the years to come.
“The world is a little upside down right now, and I don’t think it’s time for me to leave just yet with my grandchildren growing up,” he said.
Weber and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for 41 years.
“She is pure white,” he joked. “I gave her all of her gray hair.”
Doors for the fundraiser open at 4 p.m. Saturday and a catered dinner by Box Alarm BBQ will be served at 5. Tickets cost $25.
Paiano said there will be T-shirts sold at the event, and guests can participate in a silent auction.
For tickets, visit Big Webs Warriors on Facebook. Proceeds from the event benefit Weber and his family.