Daniel J. Gleason

Daniel J. Gleason, beloved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, and son passed away peacefully, surrounded by his adoring family, on October 19, 2024. Dan lived each of his 80 years with boundless energy, enthusiasm, and joy, treating every day as a cherished gift to be lived to the fullest. A brilliant student, writer, thinker, and advocate, Dan’s academic and professional accomplishments were remarkable, though he would have quickly changed the subject were anyone to have dared remark on them in his presence. Life to Dan was about experiences, not achievements; “adventures”—particularly those with his family—were their own reward.

Dan graduated from The Loomis School in 1962, where his talents on the gridiron, rink, and diamond, as well as in the classroom were recognized by the school’s Scholar Athlete award. He spent the next year in Holt, England at the Gresham’s School through the English Speaking Union. In the fall of 1963, he began a seven-year run at Harvard, graduating college as an elected member of the Phi Beta Kappa society in 1967 and law school in 1970. Dan continued his legal studies with a year at an international school in Brussels.

In 1972, Dan began a four-decade-long career in the Boston office of Nutter McClennen & Fish, where he served the firm in many leadership and mentoring roles. His talents in the courtroom were legendary and earned him admission to the American College of Trial Lawyers, where he served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Chapter. Dan’s work brought him great happiness, as it allowed him to constantly learn, teach, laugh, serve, and perform. He took particular pride in representing the underserved communities in and around Boston, including as Co-Chair of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. The many, many friendships Dan developed in the stressful and often contentious world of litigation are a testament to the integrity, kindness, and excellence that he brought to his profession.

Dan’s intellectual curiosity was insatiable. He was always either learning or looking for something new to learn. History, language, and music were primary among his passions and he loved to share each with those around him (even complete strangers)—particularly music. No matter the occasion, if a piano or guitar were in his line of sight, it was a pretty safe bet that Dan would end up filling the room with a college fight song or a 60’s ditty, played entirely by ear. True to form, when he learned of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, he responded by learning the accordion.

Dan’s heart was even bigger than his brain. His greatest passion was people—and none more so than his family. Fortune had a habit of smiling on Dan throughout his life, but perhaps never more brightly than on a spring evening in May 1966 when a beautiful, brilliant Smithie was in need of a date to escort her to her twin sister’s formal. Dan got the call. Six years later Jodie and Dan wed; and four years after that they started their family. Bear cubs Jeff and Greg and seal pup Katie joined Big J as the center of Dan’s universe. Nothing was more important to him than the four of them; no one made him smile (or laugh) more—that is until they further enriched his very rich life by introducing Cristina, Zlata, and Mike and then Eva, Isabel, Caroline, Benjo, Emma, Ariana, and Maya into his world.

Dan’s impact on those fortunate enough to have known him and to have loved him was profound and his passing will be as well. But he has left us with so many memories, so many stories, and such an inspiring path to living a meaningful and fulfilling life that he lives on through his family and friends.

Dan’s burial will be private. Relatives and friends are invited to a celebration of his magnificent life  on Tuesday, November 12th from 12noon to 3pm at the Needham Golf Club, 49 Green St, Needham. 

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/). T

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