Bexley plans to name a street in honor of longtime resident Marc Levison, who died Oct. 8 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for 20 years.
Mayor John Brennan said Levison's son, Brent, asked him to name the alley that runs from Euclaire Avenue to Cassingham, behind the Levison home, after Marc Levison.
"We definitely want to do something in his honor and call it Marc Levison Way," Brennan said.
At the Nov. 10 city council meeting, council president Matt Lampke said he supported naming the alley in honor of Levison. However, Lampke also said he would like to see the establishment of a public policy for future requests.
Council member Ben Kessler also approved naming the alley for Levison because he "made a tremendous contribution to the community."
Brennan said this was the first such request he has received as mayor, and he doesn't remember any similar requests during his time on city council.
"You would have to have someone pretty rock solid," to consider this type of request, said Brennan, who considered Levison an unofficial ambassador for Bexley. Levison sent daily e-mails with his "thoughts of the day," regularly visited businesses like Flavors Eatery and Starbucks and helped raise thousands of dollars for ALS research.
Brent Levison said he was excited about having the alley named after his father, who traveled the alley in his wheelchair on his way to see friends and visit Bexley businesses.
"It would be a nice way to honor his memory and name," Levison said. "It would be a beautiful tribute to an inspirational man."
Brennan said the Levison family offered to pay for the project. The city will coordinate sign colors with the family, the family will pay for the sign -- which could cost a couple hundred dollars -- and the city will install the sign for free, Brennan said.
There is no timeframe for installing the sign, Brennan said. The family may want to pick a special day like Levison's birthday or a special anniversary, the mayor said.
The Marc Levison 5K Run/Walk has raised more than $150,000 for research of motor neuron diseases at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Brennan told council the family plans to continue the run/walk indefinitely.
At Levison's Nov. 8 memorial celebration, Brennan read a proclamation declaring Nov. 8-14 as Marc Levison Week in Bexley.
"He demonstrated miraculous inner strength," the proclamation reads. "He was appreciative of the care and concern everyone had for him and yet strived to be an example to all of us each and every day."