Alan Thomas Glazier

Suddenly you were gone
From all the lives you left your mark upon.
“Afterimage” - Rush (1984)

Alan Thomas Glazier, age 59, died unexpectedly in Tucson, AZ on Oct.1, 2025. Alan was born in Redwood Falls, MN on October 22, 1965 to Leon and Doris Glazier. He grew up in Le Sueur, MN where his childhood days were spent participating in Punt Pass and Kick, swimming and golfing at LSCC, playing in youth hockey leagues, working his Home Magazine paper route, and building model rockets for launch in any open field! He had a fervor for music and art, tapping out songs on his Fisher-Price xylophone (in key!) at the age of 2. He took organ lessons at an early age before his teacher told his parents “There is nothing more I can teach him.”

Alan graduated from Le Sueur High School in 1984. He was known for being a gifted student (particularly in math and physics) and athlete on the hockey and golf teams. He was an accomplished percussionist, winning numerous music awards at the local, regional and State level. He was voted Most Talented in the Class of 1984 because of his excellence in music. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Mr. Dickinson’s Physics Olympics, the Le Hi Ho staff, Marching Band and was a Pep Band Student Director.

During high school, Alan was the drummer in the rock band Venom, filling many dance halls and auditoriums with heavy metal and classic rock jams. His later bands included Aurora, Resonant Alien and Hot Rox among others. He was gifted with a musical ear and could pick up nearly any instrument and teach himself to play; bass guitar, banjo, even bagpipes. But his biggest love was always percussion, continuously upgrading and adding onto his trapset, taking up more and more space in the house.

Alan attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth for two years where he was very active in Marching and Pep Bands. He transferred to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to complete his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. He continued to be very involved with band, marching band, pep band and even skated the ice during hockey games as mascot Goldy Gopher during his senior year!

After graduation, Alan moved to Fort Worth, TX to work as an Aerospace Engineer on General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon supersonic aircraft from 1989-1991. He then lived in LA/ Costa Mesa, CA from 1991-1994 while employed as an Aerospace Engineer for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace. In 1994, Alan relocated to Tucson, AZ which would become his home. He was a Principal Systems Engineer at Raytheon Missiles Systems until his early retirement. Alan also moonlighted as an Adjunct Math Professor at Pima Community College from 2007-2014. He also dabbled in programming “for fun” and developed many impressive applications using art, engineering, science fiction, and music. He was truly an engineer in mind and heart, both on the job and in his many hobbies.

Alan volunteered with the Tucson Roadrunners hockey club and helped manage the clock and scoreboard during games. He stayed active in the Tucson hockey community and made a point to attend games as a fan and maintain friendships with the people he had come to know over the years. His passion for hockey and computer programming combined on a publicly available scoreboard simulator program he created to train others how to run hockey scoreboards in their home rinks. He was thrilled to share his talents and enjoyed hearing from others around the world using his program.

He enjoyed mountain biking in Sabino Canyon and Saguaro Nat'l Park, golfing on Arizona desert courses, yet enjoying the snow in the Catalina Mountains. He coached several women’s softball and ice hockey teams, and also played on various league hockey teams before the Tucson Iceoplex/Gateway Ice Center was demolished. He traveled to Europe as a member of the North American Voyageurs hockey team to play a tour of hockey games vs. various clubs in many European countries.

Despite moving away after college, Alan stayed loyal to Minnesota sports teams; the Vikings, Wild, sometimes the Twins, sometimes the Gophers, but honestly never the Timberwolves! Family members will especially miss how he was quick to share breaking news and updates, as well as exchange emotions and reactions (and too many disappointments!) live during games.

He married Teresita Meilleur in 2004, also embracing the role of dad to her daughter, Faith. Alan quickly introduced them to his various interests, from attending University of Arizona’s Band Day to frequenting classic rock concerts, while also showing initiative in their lives by visiting the Philippines to meet extended family and experience his wife’s culture, as well as watching Faith’s softball games and assisting in practices. Alan’s love and expertise in math inspired and supported Teresita in gaining her associates degree. He then taught Faith how to appreciate and enjoy math, which ultimately led her to tutor at the local community college, where he would become adjunct professor.

Though he was a man of many talents and many achievements, he was known to his daughter as the grilled cheese aficionado, the host of Sunday non-stop sports and naps, but above all, the most loving, patient, and supportive father. So to no one’s surprise, he became the warm and fun “grandPops” to Faith’s children; always sneaking them sweets and ready to take part in a family boardgame match. Alan completed Teresita and Faith’s family and inspired many familial traditions for years to come.

Alan enriched not only the lives of his immediate family, but everyone who had the privilege of knowing him in all the facets of his life.

He is preceded in death by his wife Teresita Glazier, father Leon Glazier, and brother Craig Glazier. He is survived by his mother Doris Glazier of Le Sueur, MN, sister Monica Glazier of Columbia, SC (Rohan Allwood) and niece Kara, sister Valerie Glazier of Eden Prairie, MN (Steve Ginal) and nephews Carter and Connor), daughter Faith Smith, and grandchildren Theo and Nora Smith of Tucson, AZ.

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