Stephen Gleason

Stephen Charles Gleason (June 30 1946(1946-06-30) - March 25 2006) was a osteopathic physician, advisor to President of the United States Bill Clinton, chief of staff to Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack, and humanitarian.

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He was born the first son of Gerald Charles and Fern Louise Gleason in rural Iowa. He graduated from East High School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1964. He married his first wife, Diana Lynn Townsend, in June 1966, raised his first three children, and was subsequently divorced in 1981. Gleason married his second wife, Lisa Ann Corcoran, in August 1981, and raised his last two children as well as adopting two more children from Russia.

Stephen Gleason earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from what is now Des Moines University medical school where he was the valedictorian of his class. He took a job with Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Gleason also served as a health-care adviser to President Clinton and Hillary Clinton, and he worked for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack chose him to run the Iowa Department of Public Health in 1999. In 2002, Gleason was named chief of staff, which is the top administrative post in state government. Gleason held that job until 2005, when he resigned to pursue a career in Medical Consulting at Health Policy Strategies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[1]

Gleason was a humanitarian, dedicating significant time to foreign disaster relief missions in Ethiopia and El Salvador. He is also a member of the Iowa Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.

Gleason battled Crohn's disease and became addicted to the painkillers prescribed as a part of his treatment in the late 1970s. In response to his addiction he founded a new addiction-treatment program through Mercy Medical Center to help others suffering the same fate. He held himself out as evidence that addiction can happen to anyone. Gleason remained sober for more than 20 years before relapsing in 2005.

Gleason died on March 25, 2006 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Former president Bill Clinton, Governor Vilsack and Senator Tom Harkin spoke at Gleason's funeral on March 30, 2006 at St. Augustin's Catholic Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

In his tribute to Gleason, Clinton stated: "I know one thing - Steve Gleason was a good man, a great man, and the world is a better place because he lived."^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ http://www.governor.state.ia.us/news/2005/january/january3105_3.html