Jason Sarver, longtime Harmony council member, remembered for his community service
Jason Sarver never turned down an opportunity to serve his community or the neighboring municipalities that needed his skill set.
“He was always there and always willing to do whatever it took,” said Joe Dippold, a friend and fellow Harmony council member. “He was available for anybody that needed anything.”
Sarver died on Friday surrounded by his family. He was 51.
He was born June 10, 1974, in McCandless Township, to parents Warren Sarver and the late Lois Dombart.
Throughout his professional career, he served for more than a decade on Harmony Borough Council and worked as a code enforcement and zoning officer for Zelienople. He also performed code enforcement duties for Harmony and Evans City.
Those who worked alongside him said he was deeply committed to public service and took pride in helping residents navigate local government.
“He was a person of great service,” said Greg Such, Harmony council President. “He could always be counted on to volunteer or get involved in something when he was asked to do so.”
Dippold described code enforcement as a “thankless job,” but that never posed problems for Sarver.
“No one's ever happy to see you show up or happy when they call you,” he said, “but he never let that get to him. He was always pleasant and really cared about the area.”
Cheri Deener, Evans City Borough Council President, touted Sarver’s demeanor during his three-plus years of working for the borough.
“He was probably one of the nicest, most conscientious people I’ve ever met in my entire life,” she said. “He always had a good sense of humor. He looked at things realistically and gave people that.”
Deener also praised his expertise, noting his knowledge consistently helped the borough make informed decisions.
“If we had any issues with ordinances or whatever else, he would help us put them together,” she said. “He was phenomenal. He couldn’t have been more well-rounded in any aspect in my opinion.”
Outside of his professional life, Sarver enjoyed fishing, hunting and hiking at McConnells Mill State Park, often spending time there with his daughters and his dog, Otis.
In his obituary, family members said his greatest joy was being a father, and he cherished every moment he spent with his children.
“Any time you were talking to him — whatever you were talking about — he always brought it back to his kids,” Dippold said. “He absolutely loved his girls. In conversation, they were always brought up.”
Sarver is survived by his three daughters, Madison, Abigail and Cassidy Sarver; his sister, Amanda Truver and her husband, Nate; his nieces, Sydney and Kaylin Truver; the mother of his children, Christy Sarver; and his dogs, Otis and Chloe.
