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Longtime mayor honored for years of service

CARA MORNINGSTAR/Sun-Gazette John Dorin, left, shakes hands with Bill Dorman, right, as Gene Otterbein, center, looks on as they wish Dorin well in retirement after serving as Montoursville's mayor for the last 40 years at Dorin's retirement celebration at the Our Lady of Lourdes Banquet Hall, 100 Walnut St., Montoursville, on Sunday.

The celebration was local but the plaudits, the praise came from all across the state Sunday for John Dorin, who put his considerable stamp on Montoursville as a mayor for many years.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montoursville was the setting that brought friends, family, supporters and public officials together to honor Dorin.

People such as Charley Hall recalled how Dorin stepped up when the community badly needed a soothing presence following the fatal Flight 800 crash that resulted in the deaths of Montoursville Area High School students and their chaperones in July 1996.

“I think of his calming voice,” Hall, an aide to state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, said. “That was, and always will be, the epitome of public service.”

Everyone who came to the microphone to applaud Dorin noted his efforts as mayor, an office he held from 1982 to 2017.

They recalled the improvements he brought to his adopted community.

But there has been more to Dorin.

Steve Bagwell, elected as mayor in November, conceded he has big shoes to fill.

Many are the stories of Dorin’s acts of kindness over the years, he said.

“People tell me he hugged them in times of despair,” Bagwell said. “That

means something. People tell me how he inspired them. That just means a lot. He could tell people he loved them. It was sincere.”

Bagwell proceeded to issue a citation proclaiming Feb. 18 as Mayor John Dorin Day.

Other citations came from the state House and state Senate and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville.

U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Cogan Station, recalled how Dorin offered up borough law enforcement efforts to the Lycoming County Drug Task Force when Marino served as district attorney.

Dorin was recalled for his work on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs as president.

“John is going to be missed,” Danville Borough Councilwoman Betty Ann Moyer, who served with Dorin on the borough association board, said.

His years as a member and chairman of the Bloomsburg University Foundation were also recognized.

Lycoming County Commissioner Tony Mussare noted that Dorin put family, faith and community first in his life.

“You remained constant and steadfast in your beliefs,” he said.

A video documentary directed by Alivia Tagliaferri and presented to the gathering included interviews with local residents and officials as well as Dorin.

The footage included Dorin’s recollections of his efforts on behalf of building Indian Park and securing grant money for borough projects. Among his favorite projects was ensuring there was funding to light the Christmas tree every year in front of the former Sylvania plant.

Dorin, for his part, made it clear he had a lot of help in his work as mayor over the years.

He thanked his family, his church (Our Lady of Lourdes), the state borough association, Lycoming Sullivan Boroughs Association, Williamsport Regional Airport, American Legion Post 104 and local businesses.

He said many great things were accomplished.

“It was great to be mayor,” he said. “I truly love the borough of Montoursville. Thank you for allowing me to serve you all these decades.”

On Feb. 11, the borough’s municipal building was officially renamed the John Dorin Municipal Building.

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