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Garrett County commissioner Denny Glotfetly died sometime last night or early this morning. County administrator Monty Pagenhardt said a rescue squad was called to Glotfelty’s home in McHenry at 7:30 p.m. last night, Wednesday, Oct. 20, and he was transported to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center in Cumberland.
“We are extremely saddened and offer our condolences to his wife Sandy and their family,” commission board chair Ernie Gregg said this morning.
Funeral arrangements are not yet known, and Glofelty’s obituary will appear in next week’s issue.
He had been receiving cancer treatments at the center for the last several months. He announced that he had the disease in early April during a public meeting at the commissioners’ office and vowed that the “setback” would not deter him.
“I will battle cancer with the same attitude, effort, and dedication that I have provided to all Garrett County citizens,” Glotfelty said in April. “My commitment to the residents of Garrett County has always been an effort undertaken with respect, determination, and to always have a positive outcome.”
Glotfelty was a school bus driver, business owner, and member of many boards and organizations, including the Garrett County Fair Board, Chamber of Commerce, and Sanitary Commission.
This was his first and only term as commissioner. Glotfelty was elected to office in 2006, and had filed for re-election. He won the Republican primary election last month, and his name will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
“He’s going to be extremely missed by everybody,” Commissioner Fred Holliday said this morning. “He was a great commissioner. He made decisions from the heart and had the entire county’s interests in mind.”
Pagenhardt said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Commissioner Glotfelty.
“He was more than a county commissioner; he was a true friend,” Pagenhardt said. “Also, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and relative to many. More importantly than what he accomplished during his term of office as county commissioner was the person he was to countless people. When he first told me he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, he was adamant that he was going to fight this disease with everything he had. He did just that.”
Pagenhardt said in spite of his serious illness, Glotfelty remained committed to his responsibilities as an elected official.
“He never lost sight of the obligation,” the administrator said. “He truly and sincerely cared about the employees with county government, and the residents of Garrett County, and placed what he believed was right above everything. For Denny, there was only one way and that was what he believed was the right way. His decisions, professionally and personally, were always based on sound judgment and a well thought out process. He certainly put up a strong fight for many months, and he was an example for all of us to follow in our lives. I will miss him more than I can say.”
