Robert Bruce Dornhaffer

Robert Bruce Dornhaffer, Esquire, passed away at home in Bellingham, WA on Monday, September 6, 2010, at the age of 80, following a short illness.  He was born October 4, 1929 in Meadville, PA to George (Margaret) Dornhaffer.

A retired practicing attorney at law, he practiced law in Crawford, Erie, and Venango Counties for 33 years.  He first practiced law in the firm of Culbertson and Allen as an associate and later as a partner in the Shafer, Shafer and Dornhaffer law firm.  He was one of the founding attorneys in the present firm of The Shafer Law Firm retiring from active practice in December 1998.  During his practice he served as Special Assistant Attorney General for the Governor of PA during the construction of 1-79 and as Crawford County Solicitor for 13 years.  He devoted time and service to the PA Bar Association as a delegate in its House of Delegates and later as a member of the PA Bar Association Board of Governors.

During the years of 1987 through 1995 he was a Vice President and Trust Officer for PA Bank and Trust Co., Pennbank and then Integra Trust Co. serving the Meadville and Franklin trust offices.  He served the City of Meadville as Chairman of the Meadville Planning and Zoning Commission from 1963 to 2003.  He also served on the Meadville Housing Board, Meadville City Hospital Board of Directors 1977-1983, Board of Corporators for Meadville Medical Center, and on the Board of Directors for Meadville Medical Center Foundation.

Robert is a 1951 graduate of Allegheny College and a 1954 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.  He served two years in the U.S. Army in Austria and Germany.  He had been a member of the Iroquois Club, Meadville Country Club, Meadville Jaycees and Meadville Kiwanis Club.

Bob moved to Washington in 2007 to enjoy the beauty of the Northwest.  While there, he vacationed on the San Juan Islands, enjoyed dining on seafood, and experienced the happiness of playing with a growing baby nephew.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elisabeth Triefhaider, whom he married in 1956.  Robert was flown home to Meadville to be buried with his family at Greendale Cemetery.  Rev. Dr. Don Skinner, Chaplain Emeritus, Allegheny College will conduct a memorial service Friday, October 15, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Ford Chapel on the Allegheny College Campus.  Following the service, there will be a reception where family will receive friends.

In lieu of flowers, Bob would suggest memorials be made to Meadville Medical Center Foundation, 1015 Grove St. or Allegheny College, P.O. Box 21, 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335.

Bob will be greatly missed by his surviving nieces and nephews in North Carolina and Washington, as well as by his Westie dog, Malcolm.

Local arrangements are under the direction of the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.