James Glavin

James E. Glavin (Jim), 95, passed peacefully into God’s loving arms on All Saints Day, November 1, 2018 at Elderwood in Lake Placid. He was a recent resident of the Will Rogers in Saranac Lake, and a 25 year resident of Cranberry Lake. Jim was born in Syracuse where he lived for 65 years before retiring in 1988 to the Adirondacks.

Jim was predeceased by his wife, Helen Hartnett Glavin, his sister, Mary Lou Shanahan, and his son, Matthew Glavin. Jim is survived by his 2 daughters, Kathleen Glavin Kopitsky of Cape Cod, MA (surviving wife of Joseph Kopitsky), Sister Maureen Glavin, rscj, of St. Louis, MO; 3 sons, Timothy (Ye-Fan) of Mayfield Village, OH; David (Julie), of Solon, OH; and Martin (Kim) of Rochester, NY; daughter-in-law, Stacy, of Atlanta; 10 grandchildren, Brian, Kevin, Stefani, Cameron, Mike, John, Dan, Chris, Sean, and Brendan; 6 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim proudly served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1942 to 1946, seeing action in the South Pacific from Guadalcanal, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa to Japan.

Jim was a 1948 graduate of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) with a degree in Landscape Architecture. For over 30 years he served as a Principal with Hueber, Hares, Glavin, a Syracuse-based firm of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Engineers working on hundreds of commercial, residential and government projects throughout NYS and New England.

Jim was an emeritus fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the highest honor bestowed on his profession. He was a member of the Landscape Architectural faculty advisory council at ESF, and was past president of the ESF alumni association. Jim was also a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and was an active member of the NYS Board of Landscape Architects. He participated in professional affairs at national, state and local levels, guest lectured at several colleges and universities, and actively served on boards of dozens of community organizations.

Jim may be best known for his love of the outdoors, an intense curiosity to learn about the world, unique ability to tell a joke, passion for fine cigars and red wine, and unconditional love for his family. He also liked to share an ‘occasional’ opinion on current events.

A Memorial mass will be held at Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Syracuse at 11:00am on December 15, 2018. Memorial donations may be made to the ‘James E Glavin Scholarship Fund’ at ESF at https://basin.esf.edu/donate/

Jim’s family is deeply grateful to the staff at Elderwood in Lake Placid for their wonderful attention and care. They are also deeply grateful for the joy of his many memories and friendships at Will Rogers in Saranac Lake.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. Family and friends can share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.

Please note: In lieu of flowers family request memorial donations please be made to the ‘James E Glavin Scholarship Fund’ at ESF at https://basin.esf.edu/donate/