Christopher Joseph “Wheat” Gleason – 75, of Wakefield MA, sadly left us on December 6, 2024, after a 20 year battle with heart disease. Christopher died at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and will fondly be remembered and greatly missed by his large family and circle of friends from North Reading, Wakefield and beyond.

Beloved brother of Therese Park-Hyde of NY, MaryAnn O’Donnell of CA, James Gleason of FL, Margaret Bailey of Tewksbury MA, Julie Gleason of Arlington MA, Charles “Chuck” Gleason of Sandown NH, Anthony Gleason of Ashby MA, Ann Gleason Schnier of North Andover MA and Chris “Parker” Park. He is also survived by former wife Diane Smith.

Christopher was predeceased by parents Charlotte (Avery) Gleason and John W. Gleason and siblings Joan Cautela, John A. Gleason, Elizabeth “Betsy” Gleason, Joseph J. Gleason and the Love of his Life, JoAnne Fantuccio.

Christopher was born in Boston, MA on October 23,1949 and moved with his family to North Reading where he attended the local schools, graduating from NRHS in 1967. Shortly after high school Christopher enlisted in the US Army and served in Southeast Asia for 18 months, receiving an Honorable discharge in 1970.

Christopher worked various jobs in and around Boston after the military and attended Fisher College. For many years he was the day shift Parking Garage Manager at 60 State Street near Fanuel Hall which was his most challenging and favorite job. He moved to Wakefield in 1986 where he enjoyed sitting in the sun in the backyard while listening to the Red Sox, doing a crossword puzzle or working in his Garden Shed. Chris enjoyed thought provoking movies and watching hockey, baseball and football on TV and was an avid reader spending a lot of time in the local library. He was a kind intelligent man and could hold a conversation easily if he was in the right frame of mind, but enjoyed his privacy to a great degree. He would seldom answer the telephone and would sit for hours on his private 2nd floor porch reading. Chris was a colorful character in and around Wakefield and made friends with many local people due to his love of dogs and his uncanny memory for the names of people and their pets.

Friends and family will be notified of the details of a planned memorial service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com