Tom Gleason

Tom Gleason of Pleasanton died Sept. 21. He was 89.

Born April 3, 1929, in Ruthven, Iowa, Gleason was shaped by the Great Depression and World War II, in which he lost his older brother, Joe. He joined the Marines in 1946 and then used the GI bill to attend several schools including the prestigious Art Center in Pasadena, California. He started a career as an art director at the McCann Erickson ad agency in San Francisco during the golden age of advertising. Enter his beloved wife Charlotte, and a move to a new job at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

With Charlotte, he established their home in Pleasanton where he lived for 52 years. There they were kept busy by their three children, Rebecca, Matt (Penelope) and Brian (Nicole). He spent many happy years roving the sidelines of soccer and softball games, designing banners for the annual march of soccer teams down Main Street and enthusiastically applauding choir, band and theatrical performances. Sadly, his wife passed in 1996 but Gleason stayed active with volunteer work, art projects and travel, and took joy in the births of grandsons, Carter, Joshua, Zachary and Orion.

Gleason's devotion to his Catholic faith and his family were bone-deep. Other passions included jazz and World War II aircraft.

Gleason is survived by his children, grandchildren and his younger sister, Mary Grady of Lynnwood, Washington. Services were recently held at St. Augustine Church. Donations may be made to St. Jude's Hospital, Veterans of Foreign Wars or Friends of the Pleasanton Library.