WHEREAS, Charles Henry Gleason, M.D., a prominent Charlottesville pediatric physician and World War II veteran, died on February 7, 2017; and
WHEREAS, a son of the late Hope and Laura Gleason, Charles "Charlie" Henry Gleason, M.D., lived all but one year of his life in Charlottesville; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as soon as he turned 18, and he served as a gunner in a two-person dive bomber aircraft in the Pacific in World War II; and
WHEREAS, upon returning from the war, Charlie Gleason married his high school sweetheart, Betz, and they settled down on Hopewood Farm to begin their family; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason received a bachelor's degree and doctor of medicine degree from the University of Virginia, where he chose to specialize in pediatrics; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason joined the medical staff of Martha Jefferson Hospital in 1960, and went on to serve as president of the medical staff, chief of the pediatrics section, and a member of the hospital's board of directors; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason became a founding partner of Pediatric Associates in 1971, and for 28 years he practiced medicine and cared for several generations of children in Charlottesville and the surrounding area; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason believed deeply in community service, and he worked to build a stronger and better Charlottesville throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason did a tremendous amount of work to help children outside of his medical practice, including founding and serving on the board of Children, Youth, and Family Services, now known as ReadyKids; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason was among the community leaders who founded a camp for underprivileged children in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, and he provided free health care screenings to those who attended Camp Faith; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason served on the vestries of Christ Church and St. Paul's Memorial Church, where he also served as senior warden; and
WHEREAS, later in life Charlie Gleason especially enjoyed playing the tenor saxophone in the Senior Center Second Wind Band and its jazz ensemble, The Flashbacks; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Gleason will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of almost 71 years, Betz; their children, Michie, Laurie, Jeffrey, Barrie, and Kelly, and their families; and a host of other relatives and good friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Charles Henry Gleason, M.D., a prominent Charlottesville pediatric physician and World War II veteran; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Charles Henry Gleason, M.D., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.