Follansbee Council Remembers Former City Clerk
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FOLLANSBEE - A reminder to a long-time city official will now hang in the chambers of Follansbee Council.
David Kurcina died in May, following a more-than-three-year battle with cancer. He served his community through many roles in his life, including 26 years as Follansbee’s city clerk and as an active member of the Follansbee Volunteer Fire Department.
During Monday’s committee-as-a-whole meeting, Follansbee Council paid tribute to his life of service, dedicating a plaque in his memory, displaying an invocation and benediction he would often use at the beginning and ending of each council meeting.
"He was an invaluable part of the city of Follansbee," noted Mayor Scott McMahon, explaining when Kurcina died, he and City Manager Chris Manack-Stover wanted to find a way to pay tribute. "I always loved the fact that Dave started and ended every meeting with a prayer."
The plaque includes the invocation "Oh Lord, we ask thy blessing upon these who meet here as elected officials, that whatever they plan will be for the betterment of all people of this city. Amen."
It also features a benediction of "Lord bless and keep thee and be gratious unto thee, may the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen."
McMahon noted the colors of the plaque lean more toward the blue and metallic gold of Notre Dame than the old gold and blue of West Virginia University, referencing Kurcina’s preference for the Fighting Irish.
Councilman John Casinelli said he had learned from Jim Mirasola Sr. the color selection aligned with the City of Follansbee’s original colors, as opposed to the blue and white which has been adopted in recent years.
The plaque was placed on the wall directly behind the seat used in council chambers by the city clerk, now filled by Wendy DeAngelis, who was recently appointed to the position.
DeAngelis pointed to the legacy left by Kurcina.
"They’re hard shoes to fill," she said.
McMahon agreed, explaining some of the work involved in the job.
"There’s so much that goes into being city clerk," McMahon said, pointing to duties including running the municipal election, keeping track of records, and other responsibilities. "It’s not only juggling all of council, the mayors, and city managers, and their wants and needs, and agendas, and minutes, and everything."
Kurcina was a lifelong member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and worked for Wheeling Nippon for 38 years. He served many years as a football referee under the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission as well as a softball umpire and basketball referee throughout the Ohio Valley.
He is survived by his wife, Lesley, his son, Michael, his daughter, Lindsay, sister, Mary Ann Fletcher, and many others.