Bernard A. Gleason

Bernard A. Gleason, Ed.D.

August 6, 1929 -
June 8, 2012

Bernie was born in Iowa and lived in Pacific Junction with his parents and two older brothers. This was a railroad town used by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy line. His grandfather, his father, three uncles, two brothers and he had all worked for this company. Bernie became the first Eagle Scout in Mills County, Iowa. The Scoutmaster incorrectly determined how many merit badges were required. As a result, he earned 15 more badges beyond what was required for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Palms. The Scout regional office in Council Bluffs, Iowa took notice of his leadership, so at age 14, he was selected to be on the staff of the Scout summer camp. He continued at the camp for three more years. Many years later, his son joined the Boy Scouts, and at age 13, he became an Eagle and earned his three Palms, too. After graduation in 1946, he worked for the railroad until he enlisted in his beloved Marine Corps, where he served from 1948 through 1952. He was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina for clerk-typist school. At the beginning of his senior year in high school, he was late registering for classes because he was visiting California. When he returned to Iowa, the only classes available were shorthand and typing. Hence, the schooling for clerk-typist. He was then sent to Guam. All the Marines wanted to leave this desolate place. The word was that if you became an athlete that was your ticket to get off the island. Coaches were looking for men who wanted to wrestle, so Bernie signed up and was sent to Pearl Harbor. When the Korean War started, the athletes stayed in Hawaii while the others were sent to fight. In fact, Bernie and a co-worker typed the orders to invade Korea. In June 1951, he was stationed in Quantico, Virginia, working for Colonel John Glenn, the future Marine Corps pilot, astronaut and senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and third American in space. On August 1, 1952, having been discharged as a staff sergeant, Bernie took advantage of a new GI Bill because he always wanted to become a business teacher. His mother decided he should enroll at the Univeristy of Nebraska because it was close to their home. He enrolled in business classes and joined the Theta Chi Fraternity. Because of his duties in the Marine Corps, when he enrolled in a typing class, he could type 100 words per minute on a manual typewriter. A student who sat next to him said he was "throwing the carriage" before she had hardly gotten started! During the school year, he received a paying job teaching weight training for the college football team along with the GI Bill. In the summers, he went home and worked on the railroad. He and his wife Barbara met at college and were married in 1955. After he received his bachelor's degree in business education in 1956, they moved to California, where Bernie taught at Washington Junior High School, while Barbara taught first grade at Garfield Elementary. Every summer, they would drive back to Nebraska for Bernie to take summer school classes. He received his master's degree in 1959. In 1962, he was teaching at Jordan High school and continuing his classes at the University of Southern California in pursuit of his Doctorate of Education degree, which he completed in 1969. In the summer of 1968, he was offered a position at Long Beach City College, which, of course, he accepted. He later told everyone that, "he had died and had gone to heaven" with his new position. At all three schools, he was the department head, serving 14 years at LBCC. Other leadership positions included being treasurer of the California Teachers Association. He was the first person to have a two-year term as president of the CTA-LBCC. He sponsored Tillsmen, a social club for men and he substituted for the Junior Exchange. He was recognized as an outstanding sponsor for the clubs. In 1991, he and others at the College were named "outstanding colleagues". In 1992, the same group received a national award for teaching excellence, presented in Houston, TX. Bernie had many hobbies at various times, including woodworking, home repairs, gardening (he had a "green thumb"), collector of CB&Q railroad memorabilia, genealogy, bowling, golf, water skiing, SCUBA diving and running marathons and 5 and 10k's. He set a record at a Jack LaLanne gym for the most pull-ups and he rode an exercise bike for over 10,000 miles. In 1975, the family moved to a home near the College, which allowed him to ride his bicycle to work every day. He started as a committee member, and then as a board member for LBS Financial Credit Union for 35 years. He served on the Pacific Hospital board for years, and when Dr. Beverly O'Neil was mayor, he served on two committees for the city of Long Beach. Bernie believed that teachers should set standards for students, that they should lead the way, and should dress appropriately for future jobs. As a result, starting in 1956, he wore a suit and tie every day in the classroom. He retired in 1999 with 43 years of doing what he loved to do. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Barbara; son, Kevin (Jackie); daughter, Kelly; grandchildren, Krystina and Nicolas; brother, Jim (Jung Tang); and sister-in-law, Pat Gleason. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Long Beach City College. Parking is available in parking lot J (southwest corner of Clark and Carson) and the service will be held in building T-1200, next to the parking structure. Lunch will be served following the service. Reservations are required by calling: (562) 938-4094. Those wishing to make a donation to the Gleason Scholarship Fund may mail their checks to: Long Beach City College Foundation, 4901 E. Carson St., mail code B-12, Long Beach, CA 90808. Please sign the guestbook
at www.presstelegram.com/obits. SEMPER FI