Donald Glee "Don" Glasco

1929 - 2015

Donald "Don" Glee Glasco. Loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather; a caring physician, a committed academic and nurturing educator, died on January 18, 2015 at age 85. A private graveside service was held at the Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, Colorado. Born on 18th October 1929 to James Edward Glasco and Nelle Lyster, Don grew up in Wichita, Kansas and graduated from Wichita High School East in 1947. In 1952, Don completed his undergraduate studies in German and Russian Languages at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. He was a passionate reader and enjoyed listening to classical music. In 1951 Don initiated his medical studies at the University of Kansas, School of Medicine in Kansas City. In 1953, Don was awarded an exchange scholarship for the academic year by the Government of Switzerland to attend the Swiss Institute of Technology. His studies abroad seeded a life of travel and exploration. In 1954, Don returned to KU to continue his medical studies; during his third year of training, he met Jo Ann "Jo" Lewis, a Registered Nurse whom scrubbed for the Chief of Surgery. In 1955, Don and Jo were married. A year later, Don received his Degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kansas. Don completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Colorado Hospital in 1960. From 1960 thru 1962, Don was a Lt. Gen. in the United States Navy, San Diego, California. In 1962, Don and his family returned to Littleton, Colorado where he maintained a private psychiatric practice from 1962 thru 2000. Following the close of his private practice, Don worked until 2011 as a consultant with the Social Security Disability Determination Services. He enjoyed his remaining years in Denver with family and friends, with frequent visits to the family cabin in Evergreen, Colorado and extended time with loved ones in New Mexico. Don's academic appointments included Instructor in Psychiatry, Clinical Assistant Professor, and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His special professional interests included Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Education, Psychodynamics in Literature, and History of Psychiatry; he published Schizophrenia and Insecticides, Journal of the Fort Logan Mental Health Center, in 1963. Honors included the Guffrey Prize for best paper in the history of medicine at the Medical School, University of Kansas; fellow, American Psychiatric Association; medical board member, University of Colorado Hospitals; service award, Interdisciplinary Relations from the Colorado Psychological Association; life fellow, American Psychiatric Association; and distinguished life fellow, American Psychiatric Association. Professional and community contributions included team leader, Fort Logan Mental Health; staff psychiatrist, Veterans Administration Hospital; psychiatric consultant for Family Living Curriculum, Cheery Creek School District; organizer and psychiatric reviewer for Psychiatric Peer Review of Arapahoe Foundation for Medical Care as well as for the State of Colorado, Colorado Psychiatric Society; panelist and lecturer on Psychiatry and Psychodynamics, Arapahoe Community College; lecturer in psychiatry "Medical School" class, Littleton Public Schools; medical advisory board member, Arapahoe County School District Six; assistant examiner in Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; search committee member for chairman, Department of Psychiatry, medical school faculty, University of Colorado Health Sciences; and member of the Medical Advisory Board, Spalding Back School and Reconditioning. Additionally, Don was a board member of Littleton's Arapahoe Community College Foundation as well as a member of the Arapahoe Community College Town and Gown Society. He consulted with St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Colorado, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Denver. Don's memberships included Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity, Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity, American Medical Association, Colorado Medical Society, Arapahoe County Medical Society, American Psychiatric Association, Colorado Psychiatric Society, and Central Neuropsychiatric Association. He was a staff member of Porter Memorial Hospital in Englewood and Swedish Medical Center in Denver. Don is survived by brother Dean Lydell Glasco, wife Jo Glasco, daughters Cheryl Ann Cook and Suzanne Glasco, son Mark Alan Lewis Glasco. Grandchildren include Andrea Leigh Cook-Julian, Amy Lynn Reed, and Hunter Knight Glasco-Wolforth. Great grandchildren include Addison Marynn Julian, Ella Elisabeth Rose Julian, Charlotte Grace Reed, and Rosalie Karleen Reed. Don was a loving, compassionate and committed individual. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all. The family may be contacted through Drinkwine Mortuary, Littleton, Colorado.