Joel Ian Glasser's Obituary
Joel Ian Glasser, age 78, died at Anne Arundel Medical Center on Saturday, August 8, 2015. Born in Baltimore on December 12, 1936, he was the son of the late Harold and Ethel Glasser. Joel lived in Baltimore until he moved to Annapolis in 1985. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Dr. Jill Voran, his two children by a previous marriage: Michael Glasser and Jill Miller, their spouses Janelle Glasser and Ira Miller, his sister Suellen Berman and brother Dr. Stephen Glasser and their respective spouses David Berman and Natalie Glasser, his brother-in-law Joel Voran, his wife Marsha Voran, five grandchildren: Amanda Miller, Jack Miller, Sara Glasser, Ben Glasser, and Molly Glasser, three nieces, and three nephews.
Joel earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and American literature and a Master of Liberal Arts degree at Johns Hopkins University. He also completed graduate work at American University and The Catholic University of America. After teaching at City College high school, he spent forty-six years teaching English and literature at colleges and universities in Baltimore and Annapolis. He taught at Baltimore City Community College for thirty-one years, where he was a Professor of English, Coordinator of Speech, and Director of Forensics and where he also served as Assistant Chair of the English Department. During this time, Joel also taught courses at Baltimore International College, Loyola University, The Catholic University Graduate School, Towson State University, St. John’s College Graduate Institute, University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland Graduate School. After retiring from full-time teaching in 1997, he spent the next fifteen years as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities in the Baltimore and Annapolis area: St. John’s College Graduate Institute, University of Maryland Baltimore County Humanities Scholar’s Program, University of Maryland Baltimore County Honors College, and University of Baltimore. He taught a wide variety of courses in English and world literature and was much beloved by his students. His interest in them, his wonderful sense of humor, and his knowledge and love of literature made him an excellent teacher. In addition to numerous publications, he received various teaching awards, including an Excellence Award in Teaching at Baltimore City Community College and Teacher of the Year Award from the University of Maryland Baltimore County Honors College.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org or to Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/donate.
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