Leslie “Les” Curtis Glaser

Leslie “Les” Curtis Glaser died on October 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City, surrounded by his wife of 63 years, June, his children, and many of his grandchildren. Born on September 4, 1937, in DeKalb, Illinois to Hazel (Miller) and Louis Conrad Glaser. His older brother Robert preceded him in death. Les earned his undergraduate degree from DePauw University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and his Master and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He was a recipient of a National Science Foundation post graduate award.
Les began his professional career at Rice University, where he was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics for four years. He and June moved to Salt Lake City, where he spent 34 years as a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Utah, and 15 years as the undergraduate advisor. He was the recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. An author of numerous research papers, and the author of Geometrical Combinatorial Topology Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Les was a food and wine lover and spent 17 years as the President of Wasatch Mountain Food & Wine. He and June loved to travel, especially to France. They also enjoyed trips to Alaska and Italy. Les is survived by his wife, June Ellyn (Higgins) his children, Robert (LeeAnn Inadomi) of Las Vegas, NV, Laurie Daugherty (Steve) of Salt Lake City, Lynne Sutherland of Sandy, and Richard (Joyce) of Salt Lake City, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, an organization Les supported after his older brother’s passing from the disease. As per his wishes no services will be held.