His decision to stop at The Scoreboard in Richland Township to catch the Steelers game before reporting to work as a custodian at Pine-Richland High School on Sept. 8 likely saved the life of a fellow patron at the restaurant, but don’t try to call him a hero.

Joe Stroebel, of Butler, was watching the Steelers beat the Atlanta Falcons when he noticed a man next to him choking.

Having been trained in CPR and first aid as part of his employment at the school district, Stroebel did not hesitate to hop out of his chair, wrap his arms around the man and use his hand and fist to give four sharp tugs on the man’s solar plexus.

The food that was blocking his airway soon became dislodged, and the man immediately began breathing.

Renae Gaghan, an employee at The Scoreboard, called the incident “scary,” which it can be assumed was the reaction of her co-workers and patrons alike as the man struggled for air.

Instead of puffing out his chest and accepting the accolades of all who witnessed the heroic gesture, Stroebel shrugged it off. Instead, he pointed to the training he received at Pine-Richland that enabled him to reopen the terrified stranger’s airway.

Erin Hasinger, the school district’s communications director, said employees are not required to take the CPR and first aid training offered to them, but Stroebel’s decision to do so “led him to saving a life.”

Stroebel eschewed any hint that he is a hero for saving a stranger, saying first responders and those in the military who lost their lives in pursuit of freedom are the real heroes.

But that just makes Stroebel more heroic in the eyes of the Butler Eagle.

We count ourselves among the lucky ones to call Stroebel our neighbor and a proud native of our county.

But we know the unlikely hero — yes, we said it — will now go about his business having saved a man from choking.

The Eagle tips its cap to Joe Stroebel, and hopes most residents of our fair county would do the same if faced with such a situation.

In short, we offer a hearty “Way to go, Joe!”

—PG