Robert R. Gleason, Jr.

Robert Reilly Gleason, Jr., of Alexandria, VA, passed away peacefully of complications from surgery on March 17, 2023, St. Patrick’s Day—fitting for an Irishman.  He was born in Jersey City, NJ, on March 26, 1947, the only child of the late Robert R. Gleason, Sr., and the late Anne Paul Gleason, and he grew up in Monroe, NY.  He was the beloved husband of Barbara Chiasson Gleason whom he met while working at the Republican National Committee.  He cherished his daughter Kathleen Gleason Haffeman (Derek) of Aurora, CO, son Paul Morris Gleason (Meera Menon) of Los Angeles, CA, his grandchildren Brie, Chloe, and Lakshmi, and his cousin Mary Ann Gleason of Hawthorne, NJ.  Bob was a retired public official, having served in the Reagan White House as special assistant to the President and in the Bush Administration as speechwriter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Later in life, he served as the corporate speechwriter for the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and as speechwriter for the president of CNG Transmission Corporation.  Bob loved political discourse, was an avid reader of history, and hated the Washington Post but read it every day.  Because he dearly loved the family’s rescue cat, Boots, memorial contributions can be made to Tails High (tailshigh.org).  A viewing is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 24th at 12 PM with the funeral service to follow at Everly Wheatley Funeral Home in Alexandria, Va.

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