Mark S. Gleeson

Mark S. Gleeson, age 99 of Oakmont, PA, died June 22, 2026. He was born in Kokomo, IN and his family moved to Ford City, PA, where he attended Ford City High School. Mark earned a B.S. Degree in Biology from Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, in 1949 and a M.A. Degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951. He attended the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School for additional Anthropology study and completed the Industrial Marketing Management Program at Penn State University.

Mark served in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC before beginning employment with PPG Industries in Pittsburgh, PA in 1954.

Mark joined the Maritime Service in June 1945 and served until April 1946. He became active in the American Merchant Marine Veterans in 1989 and was Vice Chairman of a committee that successfully supported federal legislation to recognize merchant seamen for their maritime service. He subsequently published a chronicle of involvement in the ten year legislative effort.

A prolific writer on historical themes, he published a book on his father’s military service in World War I. The basis of the book was his father’s diary. He also published a book on a World War II Victory troopship named for Westminster College.

Mark led a national effort to consolidate records of the Merchant Marine in World War II to provide a research center for this unique economic-military miracle and its contribution to the success of the United States in World War II. In 2007, he testified before the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee on legislation to provide limited benefits to the World War II merchant marine.

He left PPG Industries in 1981 to become President of The Refractories Institute, a national trade association, and served in this position for 12 years.

Mark served on many boards and commissions including the Pennsylvania State Historical & Museum Commission, The Pittsburgh Central Blood Bank, The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Allegheny County Port Authority, Heinz History Center, Fort Pitt Museum Associates, U.S. Department of Commerce Industrial Sector (Steel) Advisory Council and the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.

His hobbies included archery, tennis and woodcarving. He specialized in carving coats of arms. He was the Pennsylvania Longbow Champion 3 times and was an instructor for the National Archery Association. He was also very active in the Society for Creative Anachronism, a society dealing with medieval activities.

Mark was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Ida F. Gleeson. Surviving are his daughters Rosemary Gleeson of Oakmont, PA and Ellen Gleeson (Nick) Harris of Lake Tahoe, NV, son Kurt Gleeson of Indian Shores, FL, and two grandchildren, Katherine (Eric Haas) Harris and Matthew Harris.

Services private and arrangements entrusted to the BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC., Oakmont.

If desired, donations may be made to: Bridges Hospice, 4130 Monroeville Blvd., Monroeville, PA 15146.