Donald Francis Glennon, 90, died June 29, 2012.
Born on June 17, 1922 in Manchester to Martin and Margaret (Lally) Glennon, he was educated in Manchester at the Wilson School and Manchester Central High School. He also took many classes in the Criminal Justice Program at St. Anselm College. Following high school, he entered the United States Army in February 1942. After an extensive period of training in the United States, he arrived in England in January 1944 in preparation for what is now known as the Normandy Invasion. Following the invasion, he served in France, Belgium, Germany and Holland as a member of the 621st Medical Clearance Company. He returned to Manchester to the surprise of his entire family on Christmas Eve 1945 upon his Honorable Discharge from the Army.
In 1947, he joined the Manchester Police Department. Throughout his career, he served in various capacities. After many years in the Patrol Division, he was assigned to the School Safety Patrol Program which was responsible for the establishment of all walking school patrols for public and parochial schools. In addition, he handled most juvenile crime related matters during the school year. These responsibilities were undertaken at a time when the department had neither a Juvenile Division nor School Resource Officers.
In 1964 following the murder of Pamela Mason, he was assigned to the Detective Division where he along with State Police Detective William McBain played an instrumental role in the investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of Edward Coolidge. He was subsequently promoted to Inspector and later Lieutenant and assigned to the Detective Division where he served until his promotion to Captain and Shift Commander in 1972. That same year, he was on duty at the time that multiple bombs were placed at the Manchester police station by a group led by SDS member Jan Karl Lamman that exploded and almost killed nearby police officers, including Captain Glennon. As this act occurred during the 1972 Presidential election, he was later called to testify before the Watergate Senate Select Committee by Senator Howard Baker and Minority Counsel (and later Senator) Fred Thompson regarding these acts of political terrorism.
Captain Glennon retired in November 1975.
After leaving the Manchester Police Department, Captain Glennon joined the Office of the New Hampshire Attorney General as an investigator in the Consumer Protection Division and served in that capacity for 11 years. He was involved in numerous investigations involving Ponzi and pyramid schemes as well as various other fraudulent acts perpetrated upon innocent persons, particularly the elderly. Upon his retirement, he traveled with his wife and spent many winters in the Florida Keys with old friends.
His social life centered around his selfless devotion to his wife and children. Never one to complain, he was only interested in what he could do for others. He was proud of all of his children. Until the day of his death, he would drive to the nursing home twice a day to be with his beloved wife Hellie.
For many years, he and his wife and close friends were members of the Harugari Club on Manchester’s West Side. He was also active in the Manchester Police Relief Association.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Helenor (Lyons) Glennon and their four children, Martin K. Glennon and his wife Caroline of Manchester; Colin T. Glennon and his wife Sharon of Bedford; Ann Hoffman and her husband Kenneth of Rockville, Maryland and Barry J. Glennon and his wife Julia of Manchester.
He has nine grandchildren: Shane Glennon, Sarah Glennon, Katie Glennon, Beth Glennon, Zachary Glennon, Alex Glennon, Jay Hoffman, Leah Hoffman and Phoebe Hoffman.
He is also survived by his brother Robert Glennon of Basye, Virginia and sister Madeline (Glennon) Swist of Manchester.
He was predeceased by a brother John Glennon and sisters Muriel Virgin, Peggy Sylvester and Marion Thompson.
He was a longtime member of the Legion of 1000 Men of the Monastery of the Precious Blood where he engaged in daily devotion.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Friday, July 6, 2012 in St. Raphael Church. Burial with military honors followed in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Manchester Police Relief Association, 351 Chestnut St, Manchester, NH 03104.