In Memoriam: Emeritus Professor Les Glaser
Les Glaser, Professor Emeritus
Professor Emeritus Leslie "Les" Curtis Glaser died October 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City, surrounded by his wife of 63 years, June, his children, and many of his grandchildren.
In the Department of Mathematics, Les was a considered a terrific mathematician, an excellent colleague, and a devoted undergraduate advisor for our students for many years. We will miss him.
He was born September 4, 1937, in DeKalb, Illinois, to Hazel (Miller) and Louis Conrad Glaser. His older brother, Robert, preceded him in death. Les earned an undergraduate degree from DePauw University, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He received a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He was a recipient of a National Science Foundation post graduate award.
Les began his professional career at Rice University, where he was an assistant professor of mathematics for four years. He and June moved
to Salt Lake City, where he spent 34 years as a professor of mathematics at the University
of Utah and 15 years as the undergraduate advisor.
He was the recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. He wrote numerous research papers and was the author of Geometrical Combinatorial Topology Vol. I and Vol. II.
Les was a food and wine lover and spent 17 years as the president of the Wasatch Mountains Food and Wine Society. He and June loved to travel, especially to France. They also enjoyed trips to Alaska and Italy.
Les is survived by his wife, June Ellyn (Higgins); his children, Robert (LeeAnn Inadomi), Las Vegas, Nev.; Laurie Daugherty (Steve) of Salt Lake City; Lynne Sutherland, Sandy, Utah; and Richard (Joyce) of Salt Lake City; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, an organization Les supported after his older brother passed away from the disease.
From The Salt Lake Tribune.