When he founded Denny Offstein Auto Sales & Service in 1992 on Hazel Avenue in Butler’s Island neighborhood, the well-known entrepreneur didn’t just open a business. Offstein also set about building a legacy of love for his hometown.

Offstein, 78, has decided to retire from a line of work his family has pursued for 104 years when his grandfather, Jacob Offstein, fled Jewish persecution in Poland.

It’s work that’s led him to collect thousands of bicycles, transmissions, motors, bumpers, radiators, wheels, other miscellaneous car parts — and a reputation for improving city life.

Now that retirement looms, Offstein decided to sell his property and the mountains of items he has collected over the years.

For the past few weeks, Krill Recycling, of Clearfield Township, has been removing the 50 tons of items for recycling, bringing the end of an era for the Island.

Denny Offstein recalls how Jacob and Sara Offstein bought a house at the intersection of Hansen and Homewood avenues, as well as horses and a wagon used to collect rags, metal and old cars to be repurposed and resold.

Denny Offstein followed in their footsteps, spending his career buying and selling used vehicles and parts. He said he has sold or scrapped around 1,000 vehicles in his time on Hazel Avenue.

“I’ve always dealt with people who were in need and there are people who can’t afford an expensive car,” Offstein said. “In all the years I’ve been in business, I've never had any complaints.”

Offstein wanted to do business in the city where he grew up and worked as a tow-truck driver for his family business beginning at age 16 in 1965.

He said when he bought his property and erected his 10,000 square-foot building, vandalism, graffiti and dumpster fires throughout the neighborhood, and poor conditions at the former Island playground, were the norm.

Instead of grousing about the youth and their possibly nefarious exploits, Offstein decided to take action.

He approached the Butler Eagle about placing a free notice asking county residents to donate bicycles to be fixed up for neighborhood children.

County residents responded in kind, inundating Offstein’s property with used bicycles.

“People started to call,” Offstein said. “I started to get bikes from all over Butler County. Then, they started to accumulate until I had hundreds of bikes here.”

Offstein contacted Jeff Rapp, owner of Rapp’s Bicycle Center in Butler Township, who agreed to help repair the bikes for free.

He first handed out the bikes to delighted children near his business, but then Offstein cooked up a plan to provide a fun event where attendees would also receive bicycles — a Bicycle Rodeo at the former Island playground.

The event grew and was later held at the Butler City Farmers’ Market. Those who came enjoyed free hot dogs and soda and received a gift bag including a baseball bat and ball or badminton set and other toys and activities.

Offstein also invited fire and police vehicles and personnel, a LifeFlight helicopter, a VFW honor guard, representatives of all branches of the armed services and local service organizations. There was karaoke, a petting zoo and a bicycle course the children could use to try out their new rides.

“When every child got a bike, the smile on their face when they rode away, that was worth all the time and expense,” Offstein said.

He said vandalism decreased on the Island after his free bikes began whizzing around the neighborhood.

“It made a free spirit,” Offstein said. “They could get on their bikes and have fun with their friends. It was freedom and fun.”

Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy said Offstein employed every idea he had over the years to delight as many children on the Island as possible, including dressing up as Santa Claus and walking around the streets — even though he’s Jewish.

“He’s one of those residents who gives back,” Dandoy said. “He wants to be part of things and he’s been devoted to city residents, especially in his neighborhood of the Island.”

Dandoy said there is no way to measure the positive impact Offstein’s Bicycle Rodeo and other efforts have had on three generations of children from the Island, but he believes Offstein likely affected the crime rate in the neighborhood.

“There’s an old expression, ‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,’” Dandoy said. “When kids have a bicycle, or a camp to go to, they’re not getting into trouble.”

Dandoy isn’t the only mayor to speak kindly of Offstein. He has received numerous official accolades, including the key to the city from four different Butler mayors over the years for his relentless dedication to the city he loves.

As the 2014 senior Distinguished Service Awards recipient, he was recognized for his efforts to help start the city’s K9 unit. He donated $10,000 in 2012 and spearheaded a community fundraiser which brought in $100,000 for the K9 unit.

On one occasion, Offstein received commendations and proclamations from then-Butler Mayor Frank “Skip” LeFever, American Legion Post 117 in Butler, the state Senate and others for saving the life of state Trooper Lawrence Mong.

In 1972, the scanner in Offstein’s tow truck crackled to life at 3 a.m. with a report of a car into a bridge on Interstate 79 in the Grove City area. Dispatchers reported the driver was entrapped in the vehicle.

Offstein sped to the accident scene to provide towing services.

When he arrived, he noticed a man pinned against the dashboard and a small fire in the vehicle. He raced to his wrecker to retrieve a fire extinguisher, put out the flames and set to work freeing the driver.

“I pulled the car apart with the wrecker,” Offstein recalled. “It turned out the guy was a state trooper on his way home from work.”

Offstein, who figures he has given away over 2,000 bicycles, also took it upon himself to have the former Island park upgraded, noting broken glass, bent and rusted fencing and drug deals could be found at the park and playground at one time.

Offstein told city council he would pay for new backboards on the basketball hoops if the city would spruce up and reoutfit the park’s features. The city parks department put up new hoops and the backboards paid for by Offstein, and performed other necessary upgrades.

“There was no string or chains on the hoops,” he said. “I felt bad for the kids.”

He then put on Halloween and Fourth of July parties at the park for neighborhood children, and, in 2005, he planned and executed Camp Creation to further guide the local youth toward success. Camp Creation attracted about 50 young city residents each summer during the years it operated.

Offstein met with a handful of clergymen to come up with the free eight-week day camp, which was manned by volunteers — many of them grandparents — from churches all over the city.

“For some kids, it was the first time they ever got a homemade cookie,” he said.

In addition to free food, fun activities and exposure to faith, Offstein said the children enjoyed an environmental education when the state Fish and Boat Commission agreed to stock fish in nearby Connoquenessing Creek.

“The kids didn’t have fishing poles, so they would jump in the creek to catch the fish,” he recalled. “It was hilarious.”

By Aug. 5, Krill had already removed 60,000 pounds of scrap from the exterior of Offstein’s property. Shaun Krill, owner of the recycling business, said he and his crew used an excavator, a skid loader, a roll-off truck and a tilt-bed truck to remove the scrap from Offstein’s operation so far.

“It’s bittersweet, because it’s a lifetime of work he’s put into it and I’m going to tear it apart in a week,” Krill said. “It’s the end of an era for him.”

He said he feels honored to help out a man who has helped so many.

“What he’s done for the community and individual people speaks for itself,” Krill said. “We are just trying to relieve him of some stress as far as cleaning up.”

Sheryl Kelly, Butler County recycling coordinator, said the items hauled from Offstein’s property will be separated and sent to be made into new parts.

“I think it’s just wonderful that he’s putting forth that effort to (recycle his inventory,)” she said. “We have metal recyclers around the county, but to close a business and recycle everything like that is just incredible.”

A lifetime member of Congregation B’nai Abraham synagogue in Butler, Offstein credits his Jewish faith for his focus on service.

“Jewish people give back to the community,” he said. “In the Jewish religion, you help others, be kind and honest, and if you're in business, you should have a good reputation.”

He recalls his late father, Lew Offstein, stressing the idea that hard work is the key to success. Denny Offstein recalled being handed a 5-gallon bucket at age 5 or 6 and told to pick up nuts, bolts and screws in the scrapyard until it was filled. For the job, young Denny would earn a nickel.

When he returned with a heavy bucket full of the small metal parts, Lew told his son in Yiddish that the contents of the bucket were level, but not heaping. Young Denny Offstein used all his strength to return to the debris field with the heavy bucket to add even more pieces.

Another job paying a nickel was attaching the tow hook under the passenger’s side of a car when young Denny would accompany his dad on towing jobs.

“Dad always said to look under the car to see if it’s hooked up right,” Offstein said. “I’m 78 years old and I still look under the car to make sure it’s hooked up right.”

Now, as he talks about his impact on the city, Offstein often lists off those who helped him, such as Clair Boring Painting & Services which painted at the former park when he asked.

Offstein’s role won’t be forgotten, Dandoy said. Generosity is a big part of Offstein's nature and the city is lucky to have him as a lifetime resident, the mayor said.

“He just shows people a little interest and positivity, and that influences all of us,” Offstein said.

As Offstein retires, he isn't sure what he’ll do with himself, but he plans to continue to volunteer in some capacity, as he has done for decades.

“Jewish people don’t really look for a ‘thank you’ or a halo, but what is said about Jewish people after they die, that’s what is important,” he said.