Vernon, Conn. And Tolland, Conn - VERNON, Conn., and TOLLAND, Conn. - Elwin Basil Gleason, 84, of Vernon and formerly of Tolland, Conn., passed away Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. He was born Aug. 2, 1929, in Brewer, son of the late Rev. Basil Gleason and Laura Cussack.

He grew up in the First Congregational Church of Brewer, where he graduated from Brewer High School in 1947, attended the Bangor Theological Seminary and was a member of the 385th Infantry Regiment reserves. They moved to Connecticut in 1953 to begin a new life and career with United Aircraft Corp. Elwin retired from UTC- Power Systems engineering after 38 years in 1992. Besides Aerospace his passion was Amateur radio and Genealogy. After 50 years of research he authored the Gleason family history which was published by Higginson Books and preserved in the national archives. He was active with Ham radio and held the call sign "W1JZC" since high school. He was a resident of Tolland, Conn., for 46 years before moving to Vernon, Conn.

He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Martha Gleason. He is survived by his son, Daniel Gleason and his wife, Monica, of Union, Conn.; his daughter, Mary Jenkins of Vernon, Conn.; and five grandchildren, Matthew Jenkins of Ellington, Conn., Roxanne Jenkins of Norwalk, Conn., Scott Gleason, Michelle Gleason, and Brian Gleason, all of Union, Conn.