Family Keeps Firefighter’s Legacy Alive

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Hobensack Stebulis.

If you’ve seen a man in Ivyland carrying an orange sign with the words “Gift of Life” printed in big letters, you have witnessed a father’s undying love for his son.
That man, often found on Bristol Road near Jacksonville Road, is Lenny Stebulis and he is trying to save every life he can. He lost his own son Brett “Louie” Stebulis in a traffic accident. Brett was an EMT and sixth generation Ivyland Firefighter. He has been gone since 2008 but his story is far from over. His life has carried on through his parent’s charitable work and through a gift he left to the community. He was an organ donor and gave new life to eight people the year that he died, like his heart recipient Darrin.
Brett’s mother Barbara Hobensack Stebulis shared how Darrin has stayed a part of their lives and participated in their annual fundraising effort, the donor dash. “For the past three years his heart recipient, Darrin has walked with us and in June he attended Brett’s sister’s wedding,” said Barbara.
The 11th annual donor dash is currently on, and to date, it has raised more than $100,000 in memory of Brett. Lenny has been in the top five fundraisers for several years and Team Louie has been first, second or third in overall donations. In addition to the donor dash the family also helps promote blood donation, as Brett required several units to complete his donation.
“We’ve also collected over 300 units of blood to replace the 102 units Brett needed to survive to organ donation,” Barbara said. “Brett’s friends have never forgotten us or him and our families work throughout the year between blood donation and the donor dash.”

Get involved

This year the annual donation goal has fallen behind and Barbara is urging people to get out and make a donation so that they can meet their giving goal. In order to donate go to Donor Dash, the fundraising page for Team Louie. Barbara said the family also has a Brett Stebulis memorial fund that helps students accepted into EMT, Fire, Paramedic, law enforcement training. More information can be found on the team Facebook Page.