Long time US Sailing volunteer Don Glasell passed away last week at the age of 94. A former member of the US Sailing Training Committee, Glasell was a US Sailing Race Officer and Judge who spearheaded the development of the Junior Big Boat Sailing (JBBS) program. Don also served as chairman of the committee that developed US Sailing’s “Join the Race Committee Team” publication which is still in production today. Additionally, he also held the position of Regional Training Coordinator for US Sailing Area K helping to arrange training opportunities for sailing instructors throughout his region.
In reflecting on his passing, US Sailing President Rich Jepsen said, “Don’s fierce advocacy for JBBS knocked down barrier after barrier and the result was a guide for youth programs that is used extensively today by our local sailing organizations. He and I collaborated on one of the first initiatives for youth sailors to get them into different equipment, adventure sailing, intergenerational sailing through the Junior Big Boat Sailing Initiative, leveraging a successful program at Black Rock Yacht Club, started by the late, great James Lubeck. Don’s legacy of service to youth sail training in the US is profound and I am grateful to have known him.”
Don also served over 31 years as a Director for the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation and was instrumental in the creation of the Judd Goldman Junior Sailing Program, located at Chicago Park District Lagoons. The Junior Program has been instrumental in making sailing accessible to inner-city, Chicago youth. In announcing his passing, the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program shared the following: “At one time he produced a plan to develop a Chicago community sailing program for Chicago and was very involved in the Chicago Yacht Club (CYC) Junior Program. He served on the CYC Chicago Mackinac Committee and sailed in 55 Chicago Mackinac races. He was the curator and very active at the Chicago Maritime Museum for many years. Don served in the Korean War and was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association.”
His passion, grace and humor will be greatly missed by the entire boating community. Our condolences go out to his entire family.