PORTLAND — Frederick A. “Fred” Gleason, 69, died Aug. 23 from colon cancer with his loving wife by his side.
On April 18, 1940, he was born in Chelmsford, Mass., the first son of Frederick and Eva (Greska) Gleason and attended local schools where he excelled in football and baseball.
He attended Maine Central Institute before he attended Maine Maritime Academy. At the Academy, he distinguished himself in football and baseball, receiving national recognition for his football achievements in 1963.
In 1964 he graduated with a degree in marine engineering and received a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy reserve.
He worked as a licensed marine engineer for Moore McCormack Lines for 20 years, traveling to North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa before retiring in 1984 as chief engineer. He later worked for B & M Foods, retiring in 2003.
On June 21, 1975, he married Mary T. Coyne in St. Dominic’s Church.
He was a faithful communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Portland, and was proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of Council 101.
A lifelong Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan, he enjoyed taking trips to Boston and Foxboro.
He was predeceased by his brother Daniel in 1984.
Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Mary of Portland; two brothers, Robert Gleason and his wife Eileen of Lowell, Mass., and William Gleason of Tyngsboro, Mass.; a sister-in-law, Sister Margaret Coyne, R.S.M. of Portland, brothers-in-law, Peter Coyne and his wife Helen of Kingwood, Texas, and Martin Coyne and his wife Lucia of Portland; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held last week.
Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mercy Oncology-Hematology Patient Resource Center, 195 Fore River Parkway, Suite 360, Portland, ME 04102.
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