U nizu velikana senjske povijesti i čuvara hrvatske baštine ističe se osebujni lik Senjanina Ante Glavičića, kustosa i dugogodišnjega ravnatelja Gradskoga muzeja Senj. Živeći i radeći u sredini iz koje je ponikao i u kojoj je teško biti "prorok u svome zavičaju" učinio je više nego mnogi na razini Hrvatske, koji su imali puno bolje uvjete, političke podrške i sve druge okolnosti. Posvetivši svoj cjelokupni privatni i javni život senjskoj kulturno-povijesnoj, a time i hrvatskoj baštini djelovao je u financijski oskudnome okruženju, ali bogatom inspiracijom, poticajima i izazovima baštine. Iz poštovanja i milja zvali smo ga"šjor Ante" – mnogi su ga zvali samo "profesor" – jer je uistinu bio profesor, ali i plemeniti gospodin, vitez – ponekad i Don Kihot – senjskoga, hrvatskoga duha, kulture, baštine, identiteta. Njegov najveći uspjeh nisu njegovi opsežni graditeljsko restauratorski poduhvati (palača Vukasović, tvrđava Nehaj), već je to Senjski zbornik kojim se Senj i Hrvatska i danas promoviraju diljem svijeta. Tu treba dodati i obilježavanje brojnih senjskih obljetnica, zaslužnih Senjana i senjskoga udjela u hrvatskoj i europskoj povijesti. Veselio se je neovisnoj, slobodnoj Hrvatskoj za koju je svim svojim duhovnim i fizičkim silama radio, čije je ostvarenje i pripremao. Posebno vrijedi istaknuti činjenicu da je
dobro iskoristio ogromni potencijal Senjana "u svitu" i senjskih prijatelja, istaknutih intelektualaca, znanstvenika i društveno utjecajnih ličnosti, kao i značenje Senja i njegove baštine u nacionalnim i širim razmjerima. O tome najbolje svjedoči veliki broj suradnika, zavidna kvaliteta Senjskoga zbornika i svih izdanja Gradskoga muzeja i Senjskoga muzejskoga društva, poput pretisaka senjskih glagoljskih izdanja. To je put koji trebaju slijediti njegovi nasljednici, kojim treba nastaviti djelovati Gradski muzej Senj i Senjsko muzejsko društvo, ne odustajući od osnovnih "šjor Antinih" principa djelovanja (ljubav prema Senju i Hrvatskoj), ali prilagođenih novome vremenu, koristeći nove pristupe i nove tehnologije. Iako je "šjor Ante" svime što je učinio, pokrenuo i potaknuo – bio je spiritus movens najvećega dijela senjskih i mnogih opće hrvatskih kulturnih manifestacija – sam sebi podigao neuništivi spomen, svakako zaslužuje da mu Senj i Senjani vanjskim znakovima,
činima iskažu priznanje, zahvalnost, poštovanje. Stoga očekujemo da se i jedna senjska ulica nazove njegovim imenom, da mu Senj podigne dostojan spomenik, ali ponajviše da Gradski muzej i Senjsko muzejsko društvo nastave radom i žarom, radošću i požrtvovnošću kao što je to radio prof. Ante Glavičić. "Šjor Ante" ostaje u našem sjećanju i u našim srcima čvrsto poput senjske fortice koja već stoljećima odolijeva neprijateljima, zubu vremena i tami zaborava. I neka tako bude. Amen.In the line of greats of Senj’s history and guardians of Croatian heritage the distinctive character of Senj’s Ante Glavičić, curator and long time director of the Senj City Museum stands out. Living
and working in the environment from where he originated and in which it is difficult to be “a prophet in one’s own native land” he did more than many on the Croatian level, who had better conditions,
political support and all other circumstances. Dedicating his entire private and public life to Senj’s cultural-history, and thereby Croatian heritage too he worked in a financially meagre environment, although with a rich inspiration, the incentives and the challenges of heritage. Out of respect and affection they called him "signor Ante" – many just called him "professor" – because in truth he was a professor, but also a noble gentleman, a knight – sometimes also Don Quixote – of Senj’s, Croatia’s spirit, culture, heritage and identity. His greatest successes were not his extensive architecturalrestoration ventures (the Vukasović Palace, the Nehaj fortress), but the Senj Almanac with which Senj and Croatia are promoted throughout the world even today. Added to this also should be the numerous anniversary celebrations of deserving people from Senj and Senj’s part in Croatian and European history. He enjoyed the independent, free Croatia for which he worked for with all his spirit and physical strength, the realisation of which he prepared. Especially worth mentioning is the fact that he made good use of Senj’s huge potential "in the world" and his Senj friends, prominent intellectuals, scientists and influential social personalities, as well as the importance of Senj and its heritage in national and wider dimensions. This is best witnessed in the large number of collaborators, the enviable quality of Senj’s Almanacs and all the publications of the Senj City Museum’s Society, such as the reprints of
Senj’s glagolitic editions. This is the path which his successors should follow, which should be continued by the Senj City Museum and Senj’s Museum Society, not giving up on the basics of “signor Ante’s” principles of activity (love for Senj and Croatia), but towards the adaptations of new times, using new approaches and new technologies. Although in everything that “signor Ante” did, initiated
and encouraged – he was spiritus movens the greatest part of Senj’s and many general Croatian cultural events – he raised himself as an indestructible monument, certainly deserving of Senj and the people of Senj to outwardly express with deeds their recognition, gratitude and respect for him. Therefore we are waiting for one of Senj’s streets to be named after him, that Senj erects a worthy monument to him, but mostly that the Senj City Museum and the Senj Museum Society continue with the work and zeal, the joy and dedication which Prof. Ante Glavičić showed. "Signor Ante" remains in our memory and in out hearts firm like the Senj fort which for centuries had resisted the enemy, the ravages of time and darkness of oblivion. And let it be so. Amen
