Jay O. Glerum's Final Act

In 2002, I was at USITT in New Orleans talking to a person in the Focal Press booth. Focal Press is a well respected publisher of technical books, and I had always wanted to write for them. I was trying to convince the nice lady that they should let me write a book for them, but she didn’t know me from Adam. Right in the middle of the conversation, a tall mustached man politely interrupted us and said to me (well within earshot of the person to whom I was speaking), "Excuse me, but I just want to say that I really enjoy your writing," or something to that effect. He shook my hand as he spoke, I thinker him, and off he went. As soon as he left, the lady turned to me and said, “Oh my God, do you know who that was?!" I didn't. "That’s Jay Glerum. We’ve been trying to get him to write for us for a long time.” 

Jay O. Glerum (1939—2014)

I was able to wrangle my first contract to write a book for Focal Press after that event. I don't know how much Jay’s endorsement had to do with it, but it certainly didn't hurt! We soon became good friends and we often taught classes at the same events. He was an enormous influence on me and an untiring supporter of my work. 

The last time I saw him was at USITT in Fort Worth last March (2014). He pulled me aside and very matter-of-factly told me that his cancer had returned, and that he was not going through chemotherapy. I found it hard to believe what I was hearing. Though he spoke plainly and clearly, I didn’t really grasp the full impact of what he was telling me. 

When I got back to my hotel, I sat down and contemplated what I just heard. I researched the type of cancer he told me he had, and gradually came to the realization that what he actually told me was that he was dying. I sought him out the next day and thanked him for all he’s done for the industry, and for me personally. That was the only time I ever saw him get emotional and fight back tears. It was all I could do to do the same.

His wife Sallie sent me an email saying, "Jay breathed his last breath yesterday, June 26 (2014). He left peacefully, for which I am extremely grateful since his cancer was beginning to be extremely painful."

Jay was a true inspiration to me and countless others. Even when he knew he was terminal, his focus was still on helping others. One of his final acts on earth was to further the cause of safety in the industry. He put together a list of important rigging standards and asked me if I would send him a list of electrical standards so he could include them. He was due to present a panel on industry standards and he wanted a complete list to talk about. 

He asked me to help him make it "an ongoing, living document." He closed with the phrase, "Keep the faith" Here is Jay's final contribution to the industry:

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