Everyone treasures those rare individuals who attract all in their orbit through their fun, caring, loving personalities.

And a deep scar is left behind when they are taken away too soon.

Eric D. Levin, 57, fought hard and with amazing positivity after being diagnosed with glioblastoma in October, but succumbed to the aggressive form of brain cancer Saturday.

Levin was an attorney at Rishor Simone in Butler for 31 years, president of Congregation B’nai Abraham, Butler’s juvenile court master, a member and former coach for the Center Township Baseball Association and had served on the board of directors at Irene Stacey Mental Health Center in addition to being a proud Mason and Shriner.

The scores of heart-rending tributes on his Facebook page reveal the impact Levin had on the community and the grief of his many family members and friends.

His regard in the Butler area also was evident Tuesday to any motorist on North Main Street, as the line of people at his visitation and funeral at B’nai Abraham Synagogue stretched down an alley, around the block, and back out to Main Street.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said his older brother, Scott Levin, of Pittsburgh.

Levin said a huge cross-section of people came to the synagogue to say goodbye to his brother, which delighted but did not surprise his family.

“The best way to describe my brother is, if you met him once, you were his friend,” Levin said. “He was just a gentle giant. He never raised his voice. He never got into a fight.”

Levin said his brother also never talked about his work as an attorney, but several people approached him at the funeral service to share that Eric Levin had helped them with legal issues they could not afford.

“It was amazing,” Levin said.

He said after his brother graduated from Delaware Law School at Widner University, he had opportunities to practice elsewhere, but chose to return to his hometown to pursue his career.

“I think he liked the people, he liked the community, and he was committed to keeping the synagogue in Butler viable,” he said.

He said it concerned his brother that synagogues in Ellwood City, New Castle, Kittanning, Sharon and Alliquippa closed over a number of years.

“So that’s his legacy, he and my father,” Levin said. “My brother could have very quickly and very easily been a rabbi.”

Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, of B’nai Abraham, who performed his funeral services agreed.

“He is almost irreplaceable,” Gray-Schaffer said of her friend and congregation president. “He just had a passion for the synagogue, for the community and for Judaism.”

She said he stopped into the synagogue almost daily, and had a clergy-level understanding of the religion.

“He was my go-to substitute for me,” Gray-Schaffer said. “He absolutely could do the whole service.”

She said Levin led significant portions of the hours-long High Holy Day services as well as closing services at the synagogue.

“He was carrying on a tradition,” Gray-Schaffer said. “His father, Bernie, was congregation president, and Eric so looked up to his father and wanted to be just like him.”

She related during his funeral service that Levin’s Hebrew name means “Son of the star.”

“He really was a light that illuminated us by his example,” Gray-Schaffer said. “Everyone loved him, and he returned that love.”

Irv Grossman was a friend of Levin throughout his life, having grown up near the Levins on Beech Road.

Grossman described Levin as a curious, adventurous, talkative child.

“He enjoyed a good conversation and made friends with everyone,” Grossman said.

As a teen, Levin was highly involved in B’nai Brith Youth Organization, and became president of the Western Pennsylvania region in his senior year at Butler High School.

“Religion was important to him and his family, and we had the extreme challenge of growing up Jewish in a small town in Pennsylvania,” Grossman said. “For us, BBYO was a chance to spend time with people who had a similar upbringing and faced similar challenges.”

After college, Grossman moved to Atlanta, where he is a partner at a consulting firm. But he never lost his connection with Levin, as he returned to Butler a few times each year to hang out with his old buddy or attend a Steelers or Pirates game with him.

“He was rich in friends,” Grossman said. “Eric loved to hang out, whether at the bowling alley, the cigar shop or in his garage with two or three TVs going at the same time.”

Butler attorney Lori Doerr knew Levin through the synagogue and legal community they had in common.

“Eric enjoyed life and had fun,” Doerr said. “He had cigar shop buddies, he loved the casino, and Steelers, Pirates and Pitt games. He was always doing something fun.”

She said Levin was a great help as she raised her children in the Jewish tradition in a community with a small Jewish population.

“Eric was incredible in taking us under his wing and making sure everyone welcomed us,” Doerr said.

She said 10 people were required for her family to celebrate her son’s bris, per Jewish tradition.

“He just rallied Butler,” Doerr recalled. “That was the day my door opened and Butler welcomed us. He was a person who would take on any task and do anything for anybody.”

She said many mourners waited in line three hours Tuesday at Levin’s visitation at the synagogue.

“He just touched so many people along the way,” Doerr said.

She summed up the thoughts of everyone feeling the loss of Levin.

“I’m eternally grateful for his friendship and all he's done for my family, and I will miss him greatly,” Doerr said.

He leaves behind his wife, Michelle, triplets Jordan, Marni and Kayla, and two brothers and their families.