The Rev. Dr. David P. Gleason, Lutheran minister
The Rev. Dr. David P. Gleason of Millsboro passed away peacefully at his home the evening of Wednesday March 8, 2017.
Pastor Gleason was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa, educated in the Pittsburgh public schools and graduated from Peabody High School in 1964. In 1968 he received a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with a concentration in English, speech and reading from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
In 1972 he received the master of divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. He was ordained to the ministry of the Lutheran Church in America in 1972. He also earned the doctor of ministry degree in ecumenical studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation of Notre Dame in 1988. He published in the fields of liturgy and sacramental theology as well as sermons.
Pastor Gleason served Trinity Lutheran Church, East Berlin, Pa. (1972-81); Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, Md. (1981-85); Palm Lutheran Church, Palmyra, Pa. (1985-89); and First Lutheran Church, downtown Pittsburgh, Pa. (1989-2013). Involved in the work of the larger church, he served on synodical committees, the boards of Thiel College, the Lutheran University Center and the Lutheran Service Society, all in Pittsburgh. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and its executive committee, and chaired its transportation committee.
He was a member of the advisory board of the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs of the University of Pittsburgh and of the ethics committee of Magee Women's Hospital. In 2016, Pastor Gleason received an honorary doctorate in the humanities from Thiel College in Greenville, Pa. He retired as senior pastor of First Lutheran Church in downtown Pittsburgh in 2013 having had the longest pastorate in the congregation’s history.
David was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, who enjoyed fishing, going to the beach, gardening and visiting with friends. He adored the people in his life and always took care and time to listen to their stories and help them however he could. The impact he had on their lives will live on in the fond memories of times spent together.
Pastor Gleason is predeceased by his parents, William H. Gleason and Margaret O. Gleason; and survived by his loving wife Joyce (Muhly), their children Eric (Jane), Michelle (Bill) and Michael (Jaclyn) and their grandsons, Charles and Miles; and by his brother, Bruce Gleason.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m.m., Saturday March 25, at Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, 211 Mulberry St., Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the Gleason family requests donations be sent to: Feed The Children Heart and Soul Ministry, C/O Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, PO Box 464, Lewes, DE 19958.
Another Memorial Service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, where his cremains will be interred, at a later date in April.
