Roger Kenneth Gleason died Friday March 4, 2016 at Yale New Haven Hospital from complication of heart surgery. He was 80 years old. Roger is survived by his wife Irene, children Jim, Ken, Kerry, and Cindy, daughter-in-law Natalie, grandchildren Jimmy, Tara, and Dominga, sister-in-law Rita, brother-in-law Harry, several nieces and nephews, and loving companion Cindy Lee. He was predeceased by his brother Gerry, his sister Pat, his mother Violet and his beloved grandmother Beatrice Feudner. Roger was born in Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Neptune, NJ and grew up in and lived most of his life in Stratford, CT. He graduated from Stratford High School and attended Bridgeport University School of Engineering. Roger was a proud veteran of the US Army National Guard where he served as a medic. Roger worked, as a mechanical designer/engineer for many local companies, culminating with becoming Engineering Manager at Clairol, Inc. Roger was a noted local businessman and owned his own engineering consulting firm, New England Design, for almost 30 years. Roger had a lifelong love of all sports, especially baseball and softball. As a player Roger played softball for many local teams, most notably the Connecticut Travelers that toured parts of America every summer. Later on he spent many years as a coach (with his brother Gerry), League President, and sponsor of both the "NED" Bronco team and the "Parkway American" Babe Ruth team. He also sponsored and coached his own traveling baseball team, the Parkway Travelers. In addition, Roger routinely treated his sons and his players to Mets games at Shea Stadium. This generosity led to him being affectionately know as "coach" or even "old chad" to many of Stratford's kids. For the past 10 years Roger was a resident of Tower One/Tower East in New Haven where his volunteer activities continued. He served as Treasurer of the Resident's Association; he led the Men's Group, and started a Baseball Trivia group where he shared his passion for baseball every Tuesday night. Funeral Services will take place on Wednesday, March 9th at 9:30 a.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford, and at 10:30 a.m. in St. James Church Stratford for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m.