Donald Gleasner

    Donald G. Gleasner, who as an importer was among the first to introduce Americans to prefinished plywood, leaving a mark on rec rooms everywhere, died on May 3 at his house on Pheasant Woods Lane in East Hampton. He was 88.

    A gifted athlete in high school, Mr. Gleasner received a scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania before World War II interrupted his education. He joined the Naval Air Corps, becoming a pilot. In the Navy his athletic skills developed further when he was asked to join the football team.

    The close of the war brought an invitation from a Navy football coach to join him at the University of Maryland, and it was there that Mr. Gleasner met his future wife, Patti Siceloff, with whom he would spend the next 64 years.

    Though drafted upon graduation by the Chicago Bears, he decided to pursue baseball and earned a spot on the Boston Red Sox. By 1948, however, he left the sports world, traveling to Asia to set up his import company.

    He was born on Dec. 30, 1922, in Wilmington, Del., to Leo Henry Gleasner and the former Eleanor Burns.

    Mr. Gleasner and his wife lived in Ridgewood, N.J., among other places, before moving to East Hampton in 1986.

    Surviving him are his wife and three children: Gregg Gleasner of San Francisco and Donald and Patrice Gleasner, both of East Hampton.

    A memorial will be held this summer. The family has suggested contributions to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978, or Elsa’s Ark, P.O. Box 2900, East Hampton 11937.