Paul Douglas Gleason

Paul Douglas Gleason (1936-2025) Paul Douglas Gleason, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away on December 25, 2025, at the age of 89. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, leadership, fellowship, and love.

Education and Early Career

Born on July 30, 1936, in Webster, Massachusetts, Paul graduated from St. Louis High School in 1954. He earned a B.S. in biology, cum laude, from the College of the Holy Cross in 1958 and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1962. He completed his internship the following year at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Military Service

Paul served 30 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a brigadier general in 1993. During his service, he exemplified the Air Force’s core values of "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do."

After graduating from the basic orientation course for physicians at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama, Paul was assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, as a general medical officer with duties in family practice, ear, nose, and throat, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Continuing education was important to Paul and, in preparation for an assignment to South Vietnam, he attended courses in field medicine at the U.S. Army Medical School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and tropical medicine at the Naval Medical School, Bethesda, Maryland. From November 1965 to October 1966, he was commander of the 552nd Medical Services Flight, Military Provincial Hospital Assistance Program, Binh Long Province Hospital, An Loc, South Vietnam.

Returning to the United States, he was assigned to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, as officer in charge of the central base dispensary. In May 1967, he was assigned to David Grant USAG Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, to begin residency training in obstetrics and gynecology. After completing his residency in June 1971, Paul was assigned to the U.S. Air Force hospital, Royal Air Force Station South Ruislip, England, as chief of obstetrics and gynecology. Other assignments as chief of obstetrics and gynecology include U.S. Air Force hospitals at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany (August 1972) and Mather Air Force Base, California (August 1974). While at Mather Air Force Base, he also served as chief of hospital services until June 1977.

Paul was then assigned as team chief, Medical Inspection Branch B, Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, California. During this assignment, Paul graduated from the Aerospace Medicine Primary Course at Brooks Air Base, Texas. From July 1979 to May 1983, he was commander of the USAF Regional Hospital, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. He then became command surgeon, Headquarters Alaskan Air Command, and commander of the USAF Regional Hospital, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. In April 1985, Paul was assigned as commander of the David Grant USAF Medical Center, one of the Air Force's three major teaching hospitals. In April 1986, he was assigned as command surgeon, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. Returning to the United States in May 1990, Paul became director of professional affairs and quality assurance, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. His last assignment in July 1992 was as commander, Air Force Medical Operations.

Awards, Honors and Professional Affiliations

Paul received numerous military decorations, including the

· Distinguished Service Medal

· Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

· Bronze Star Medal

· Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

· Presidential Unit Citation

· Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters

· Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster

· Coast Guard Unit Excellence Award with operational distinguished device

· National Defense Service Medal with bronze star

· Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars

· Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short

· Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long with two oak leaf clusters

· Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

· Air Force Training Ribbon

· Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

· Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Paul was a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and held memberships in several medical associations.

Civilian Career

After retiring from the military, he served as director of medical services at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

Paul was active in Petworth Lodge No. 47 under the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, D.C., for nearly three decades. He served as Master of Petworth Lodge in 2000 and later received the Lodge’s Fidelity Medal in honor of his longstanding dedication and faithful service. He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and held leadership positions in all three York Rite bodies. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., in 2010, the highest office in the society. Following his term as Grand Master, he continued to serve the masonic community as Grand Treasurer and was later honored with the title of Grand Treasurer Emeritus. He left a lasting legacy of leadership, service, and devotion to others.

Family and Legacy

Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia Smoot Gleason. Together, they shared 64 years of love and adventure, literally travelling around the world together on a cruise after retirement. They shared many hobbies, not limited to travel, including gardening and crossword puzzles.

Paul was a cherished father to seven children: Charles (spouse Carrie), John, James, Kathryn, Laura (spouse Gerald ((Jerry) Hurst), Paul (Chip) Douglas II, and Kristina (spouse Jon Bondanella); a proud grandfather to 15: Thorsen, Landen, Lakoda, Ryan, Joshua, Tyler, Jordan, Andrew (Drew) Hurst, Timothy Hurst (spouse Cheyenne), Joseph Hurst (spouse Taylor), Kaitlin (spouse Presley Spicer), Brendan (spouse Anna), Preston, Grace Bondanella and Nicole Bondanella. He also recently welcomed his first great-grandchild, Brooklyn Hurst.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. and Marie A. (Gagner) Gleason, as well as his sister, Rosemary Merz, and his brother, William (Bill), Jr.

Remembered For

The family has many, many anecdotes about Paul, offering a glimpse into his wonderful sense of humor. He was known for teasing his children, who, on occasion, were gullible enough to believe his stories.

· He grew up near Webster Lake in Webster, Mass. The lake is famous for its 45-letter Nipmuck (Algonquian) name, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, which means “you fish your side, I fish my side, nobody fishes in the middle.” Paul had no problem with the pronunciation.

· Maybe it was on Webster Lake that he first spotted the rare U-bird. He certainly sold his children on its existence, albeit for only a short time.

· An avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Paul nonetheless had season tickets to the then-Washington Redskins. He delighted in wearing his Cowboy paraphernalia to the games.

· For a short stint, Paul was captain of his own boat, The Might as Well, until the family mutinied during its move to Alaska, becoming grateful landlubbers once again.

· Driving was not a strong suit, though he would likely disagree. No one wanted to be with him in a car or on a boat if he was behind the wheel.

· A hard hat was required whenever he DIYed or gathered firewood from under the deck.

Memorial Services

A viewing and funeral service will be held at Murphy’s Funeral Home, at 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia, on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.