By Jessica Kenley | Monarch Media

COUDERSPORT, PA — On a hot and sticky evening in Coudersport, more than 80 people gathered to remember a man whose life was deeply intertwined with the community he served.

Family, friends, current and former borough officials, attorneys, community members and children gathered at the Coudersport Police Station, next to the Arboretum, on August 5 at 5 p.m., for the dedication of a memorial bench honoring longtime Coudersport Borough Solicitor Daniel F. Glassmire V., Esq., who died unexpectedly in November 2025.

The wooden bench, placed near the Coudersport Police Station and overlooking the Arboretum and the town Glassmire loved, bears a plaque commemorating his 37 years of dedicated service.

The plaque reads:

“In Memory of Daniel F. Glassmire V, ESQ.
For his 37 years of dedicated service to the Borough.
A true public servant and a protector of rights.
Coudersport Borough Solicitor from 1988 to 2025.”

The ceremony was solemn, but it was also filled with affection. People stood shoulder-to-shoulder, hugged one another and listened as speaker after speaker recalled Glassmire not simply as an attorney, but as a friend, mentor, husband, father and dedicated public servant.

A lawyer’s lawyer

Those who worked with Glassmire repeatedly returned to the same themes: his intelligence, his love of learning, his meticulous preparation and his unwavering commitment to doing things correctly.

Jack Keifer, the Coudersport Borough Council Vice President, described him as a “lawyer’s lawyer,” someone other attorneys would turn to for advice because of the depth of his knowledge and his willingness to research an issue thoroughly. Glassmire was remembered as someone who did his homework, told people what they needed to hear—even when it wasn’t what they wanted to hear—and took his responsibilities seriously.

His dedication to Coudersport Borough extended well beyond simply attending meetings and providing legal opinions.

For 37 years, Glassmire helped guide borough officials through complicated legal questions while respecting the fact that policy decisions ultimately belonged to the elected representatives of the community.

Retired President Judge John Leete recalled Glassmire’s belief that rules and procedures were not simply restrictions, but tools to ensure that government remained fair, civil and productive.

Glassmire also emphasized the importance of allowing every voice to be heard with dignity and respect, according to those who worked alongside him.

Remembering the man behind the attorney

Perhaps the most personal remarks came from Glassmire’s family.

His wife, Joy Glassmire, spoke about a man whose profession was much more than a career.

She said he loved God first, followed by his family and friends, but he also genuinely loved the law.

“This was not just a job,” she said. “It was not just a career. It was not just a degree. He believed in the law.”

Joy recalled how Glassmire would continue reading and studying after coming home from the office. His work was also his passion and his hobby.

She also made a point of recognizing the women who worked alongside him throughout his career and helped make his office function smoothly, including Jenny and Amanda, as well as others who supported his work over the years.

Joy also shared words Glassmire had written for a Law Day presentation years ago, reflecting his belief in the Constitution, individual rights, justice and civic participation.

In those remarks, Glassmire encouraged Americans to become informed about public events, vote and participate in their government, emphasizing the importance of protecting the balance between governmental power and individual rights.

A friendship forged through the law

Local attorney Thomas Shaffer, Esq. also shared memories of Glassmire, whom he had known since childhood.

Their relationship had not always been an easy one. Shaffer recalled that Glassmire had served as Solicitor for the Planning Commission while Shaffer was a land developer, meaning the two sometimes found themselves on opposite sides of an issue.

Over time, however, professional disagreements gave way to deep respect and friendship.

Shaffer eventually worked with Glassmire on a case involving PennDOT, which they won, and said that through their years of working together, he came to love and deeply respect him.

“I can’t drive into Coudersport without looking over to see if his car is there,” Shaffer said, describing just how accustomed he had become to seeing Glassmire around town.

He called him a “wonderful man” and said Glassmire possessed more knowledge than anyone he had known.

Beverly Morris, retired Borough Manager and Secretary/Treasurer, who also worked with Glassmire, described him in equally strong terms, calling his thoroughness extraordinary.

“He was more thorough than any attorney I’ve ever worked with,” Morris said, adding that she had great respect for him and that his dedication was remarkable.

Morris added that the memorial was a fitting way to acknowledge Glassmire’s life and bring together the people who loved and respected him.

A place to remember

At the conclusion of the formal remarks, current and former borough council members and mayors were invited to gather around the bench for its unveiling.

A toast was offered in Glassmire’s memory, honoring his 37 years of service, his belief in second chances and his love for Coudersport.

The bench was described as a place where residents could sit, slow down and look out over the Arboretum and the town Glassmire served for nearly four decades.

The official program concluded with an invitation for attendees to stay, visit with one another and enjoy refreshments and live music at the Arboretum that evening.

And so, on a warm summer evening, a simple wooden bench became something much more than a place to sit.

For those who knew Dan, the bench offers a place to pause, remember and perhaps share a story.

Dennis Goodenough, touching bench

It became a permanent reminder of Daniel F. Glassmire V.—a Coudersport native who devoted 37 years to public service, believed deeply in the law and the Constitution, and left behind a community full of people who clearly cared for him.

And for those who never had the opportunity to know him, the plaque tells at least part of his story: 37 years of dedicated service to the Borough. A true public servant and a protector of rights.

Jessica Kenley is a journalist and Managing Editor of Monarch Media, a nonprofit online newsroom covering Potter County.