Hartly C. "Hart" Gleason

Hart Gleason

March 28, 1915 ~ November 29, 2014

Hartley “Hart” C. Gleason was born in Worcester, Mass on March 28, 1915 to Eleanor (Fairfield) and George A. Gleason.

He spent his childhood and school years in Worcester and attended Clark University for two years, then traveled West to attend the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology “School of Mines,” graduating with a degree in petroleum and geological engineering in 1939.

His work in the oil field was interrupted by WWII when he joined the Army Air Corps in December 1942 and served as a test pilot until February 1946.

He continued in the oil industry, working for British American Oil, Empire Petroleum and started his own company, Mountain Crude Marketers.  Accepting a new challenge, he went to work for Fenix and Sisson (Engineering consultants to the Atomic Energy Commission) which led him to the University of California’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.  Then he worked as a Drilling Engineer, designing and supervising underground nuclear events, the most memorable being the Cannikin Project, then the world’s largest acknowledged nuclear shot on Amchitkia Island, Alaska in 1971.

Returning to the private sector in 1978, he began the consulting firm of Gleason Engineering in Grand Junction.  In 1987 he moved to his cabin home in Placerville, adding the fields of home inspections and foundation and septic system designs.  Hart loved living in the mountains and the outdoor activities.  He enjoyed golf and was an avid skier until he was 94.

Hart was a Registered Professional Engineer for 60 years in Wyoming and later in Colorado and Utah.  He was a Legion of Honor member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Rotary Club of Telluride, Elks Lodge 692, American Legion Post 12 and Christ Presbyterian Church.

Hart passed away peacefully on November 29, 2014 from complications of pneumonia.

He is survived by his wife, Palmyre “Pal,” pf 41 years, his sister Mary (Richard) Senter, son Hart E. (Leslie) Gleason, daughter Cathryn (James) McCloskey, and sons Chris (Carla) Chapin, and Charles Chapin, former wife Kay Gleason Hoovler, and six grandchildren.

Hart requested no services saying he had many celebrations over 99 years and would prefer friends spend their time and energy on someone living.  Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Colorado.