Chris and I go way back to the early days of high school, partying in the 'pits' and at the river with the rest of the Shen kids. Walked the stage with him for graduation at SPAC where we shook his mom's hand as she was giving away the diploma's (PTA President?). We had 1 or 2 beers that day as you can imagine.
Onto college where I went to Plattsburgh State and Chris to St Michaels in Vermont and we visited each other a couple of times across Lake Champlain. Chris was always the guy who could party late, tell a good story (mostly true), make you laugh till your cheeks hurt then get up and ace the 9:00am test with one eye open, just a naturally smart kid.
We next hooked up in Hoboken where he was going to law school and I was starting a career with a company in downtown Manhattan. I remember moving down there and he already had this huge group of friends b/c of his infectious personality. Where ever we went we would run into people he knew and the people wanted to be around him. He brought a lot of fun into my life during these years and was always very generous.
Fast forward 10 years when he becomes very active with the triathlons which as a sports-oriented guy got my interest. I did a short tri in Arizona and was hooked and he became my mentor. I would ask the stupid newbie questions and he was always there with an answer, most times with that sly Gleason wit (i.e. ride that bike like u just stole it) We did Syracuse together in 2010 which was my first HIM. That was the race where he ate in on the bike on like mile 2 over the railroad tracks but refused to go to the Medical tent for treatment with the US Marine who picked him up off the ground and finished the bike and run with a mangled cut on his knee that looked like hamburger (his words). I remember the drive home where he said there was no way he was gonna look like a p8ssy in front of a combat Marine who probably dodged bullets for a living protecting our sorry civilian asses. At Medi-call i think he got about 20 stitches. Yes he biked 54 miles and ran 13+ on a knee with a cut that required that many stitches, he was kinda proud of it in a way and i knew right there and then that i had the right tri mentor for life.
Yesterday was the worst day of my life. I couldnt find his race times on the Philly website and he wasnt returning texts. I finally called his phone and Jenny answered and told me what happened, i ran to the bathroom and almost threw up while i cried for the first time in 20 years. I am far from the lets 'celebrate his life' mode yet. I am walking around in a fog feeling like i just lost a brother, the pain really stings my head and heart. As i type this tears form in my eyes...he was such a good friend, mentor, husband, father, son, brother, skier, triathlete, guitarist, lawyer...simply put he was very good at everything he did. If i ever have a son i hope he is half as good as Chris Gleason in the game of life.
When the time is right, and with Jennys permission, i would like to discuss how we create a new race - the G. Christopher Gleason Memorial.
-Justin Linnan
justinlinnan@yahoo.com