Alan H. Gleason, 92, an economist who taught in Japan and formerly was the chairman of the University of Toledo's economics department, died from complications of Alzheimer's disease Jan. 20 in Kingston Residence of Sylvania.
Mr. Gleason of Sylvaniaretired from UT in 1984 but taught part time there for an additional three years. His specialty was labor economics.
"There were times, rather than spending time writing articles to get his own career ahead, he spent time with students. He had an open door," his wife, Emily, said.
"He never wrote a book," she said. "And he never regretted that, because it would have meant time away from his students."
Economics alumni remembered him when they paid return visits to the department.
"The students come back and asked about Alan," said Michael Dowd, the current chairman. "They'd ask how was he doing and almost always [have] some recollection of something he said in a class that stuck with them."
As chairman, Mr. Gleason spoke softly and intelligently to young faculty members as he offered advice they appreciated, recalled Michael Magura, a colleague who retired in 2000 as chairman of the economics department.
"I found Alan in general to be a very fair chairman," Mr. Magura said. "He was calm, peaceful, and never got excited."
Mr. Gleason arrived at UT after a visiting professorship at the University of Pittsburgh. Much of the previous dozen years were at the interdenominational International Christian University in Tokyo, where he became chairman of the social studies division.
He was teaching at the University of Rochester, from which he received his master's degree, when he learned of the opening.
He taught in English, although he learned a lot of Japanese. The school wanted students to become good speakers of English and to understand U.S. culture, and the Gleason family invited students often to their on-campus home, his wife said.
"It was a wonderful experience," his wife said.
He had a doctorate in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Born in Riverside, Calif., he grew up in Rochester, N.Y. His father, Harold, a professional organist, had been hired to be the private organist for George Eastman and, later, established the organ department at Eastman School of Music.
Mr. Gleason, though he didn't play the organ, was a pianist, singer, and composer. At International Christian University, he was adviser to the Modern Music Society. "He'd play boogie-woogie, much to the astonishment of some of the staid Japanese professors," his wife said.
With his brother Peter, he played four-hand piano arrangements of Mozart symphonies. He composed sacred music. He sang bass in the choir of Sylvania United Church of Christ and sang in the choir and glee club of his alma mater, Princeton University - where he also played glockenspiel in the marching band.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and was stationed in England and, post-liberation, in France.
He and his wife enjoyed travel around Europe, particularly river boat trips across the continent.
"He was a man of very hidden qualities," his wife said. "At first he would present himself as shy and serious, but if you got to know him, he could tell funny stories and jokes."
Surviving are his wife, Emily, whom he married June 19, 1950; sons, Alan and James; daughter, Ann Gleason; brothers, David and Peter, and two granddaughters.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Sylvania United Church of Christ, where visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by the Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania.
The family suggests tributes to the church, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, or Senior Independence of Greater Toledo.
Contact Mark Zaborney at:
mzaborney@theblade.com
or 419-724-6182.
First Published January 28, 2010, 11:20 a.m.
