Shortly before turning 16, Jonah Hart was an active athlete and high-achieving student on track to be class valedictorian at Obama Academy. Suddenly, a few days after his birthday and an unexpected seizure, doctors found an inoperable tumor and diagnosed him with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer. Jonah died 13 months later, on October 2, 2023, less than a month after his 17th birthday. Yet, throughout radiation treatment, he lived a full life and “fought a valiant fight,” said Lorien Hart, Jonah’s mother.

During those 13 months, Jonah went on three ski trips, sampled gourmet foods all over the city and packed in as many activities as possible with friends and family, including his sister, Abigail, father, Chris, and his mother.
“Until the last couple of weeks, he was Jonah,” said Lorien.

Glioblastoma is a rare form of cancer, characterized by a rapidly spreading tumor in the brain or spinal cord. With no cure currently, the average length of survival after diagnosis is eight months, according to the National Brain Tumor Society.

The grim prognosis is one reason Lorien continues to raise money and awareness for glioblastoma research. A musician for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Lorien organized the inaugural Jonah Hart Memorial 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk for October 5, but wanted her fellow musicians to contribute to the race in their own way. They decided to hold a three-part concert series to raise money for Cancer Bridges, the beneficiary of the 5K. “The programming at Cancer Bridges provides support to not just cancer patients, but all Western Pennsylvanians affected by cancer,” explained Lorien.

The musicians chose Mt. Lebanon for the final concert and many of them have a connection to the Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran Church. “They have been so supportive and so lovely in the way that they’re offering all sorts of help,” said Lorien.

Old Hickory Road resident and PSO musician of 24 years, Ron Samuels, played clarinet during the benefit honoring his friend’s son. “I grieved in my own way when she lost her son,” said Samuels.

He attended Jonah’s bar mitzvah several years ago and remembered being “super impressed with his performance and speech that day.” Samuels said he has “tremendous admiration of Lorien and Chris’s dedication to raising awareness of glioblastoma.”

Larry Allen, Music Director Emeritus of Mt. Lebanon Lutheran, knew Jonah and “lived with them through this whole process.” He played piano during the benefit concert and said it’s remarkable how the family managed to “take a tragic situation and turn it into something good.”

During the Sunday evening concert, members of the symphony performed a wide range of music. The performances featured a mix of modern and 17 century music. The music flowed between brisk and intense melodies to slow and gentle notes. Thunderous applause and cheering followed each set.

The executive director of Cancer Bridges, Stephanie Ciranni, addressed the crowd and thanked them for the support during an intermission. The nonprofit provides just under 200 free programs each month to those affected by cancer, both online and in person at their location in the Strip District. “We’re so honored to partner with Jonah’s family,” Ciranni said.

Lorien is currently working to establish a foundation in Jonah’s name to continue to support organizations like Cancer Bridges and The Outlier Fund. She hoped Jonah could have “stayed around long enough to catch up with science,” but remains optimistic there will be a cure one day to save other lives impacted by glioblastoma.

“We all have some link to cancer,” noted Lorien. “Whether it’s someone in our inner circle, a neighbor, a work colleague, someone in our community, we have all been changed in some way by a cancer diagnosis.”