Episcopal Schools Executive Jonathan Glass Dies at 47
Episcopal News Service. August 31, 2004 [083104-2-A]
The Rev. Jonathan Thaddeus Glass -- associate executive director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) and former rector of St. Mark's Church in Upland, California -- has died at age 47 at his home in New York. It is believed that Glass may have died August 28, the day his body was discovered, apparently by a neighbor. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed with ENS.
Two memorial services are planned. The first is set for the Swan Point Cemetery Chapel, 585 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, Rhode Island, and will occur during the week of September 5. As soon as the date and time of this service is known, these details will posted to the NAES web site, www.episcopalschools.org.
A second service has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22, at Grace Church, 802 Broadway (at East 10th Street), New York City. The liturgy has been organized by NAES and the Glass family. A reception will follow in Tuttle Hall at the church.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Glass' memory may be made to the Jonathan T. Glass Memorial Fund, National Association of Episcopal Schools, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
Glass began work at NAES in 1995 as assistant director, then as interim director (1997-98). He became associate director in 1992, and was named associate executive director in 2002. He wrote or edited several publications on Episcopal school life and governance, and led workshops on a wide variety of school-related topics. He served on the national advisory council of the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, the advisory board of Forward Movement Publications, and the Episcopal steering committee of the Pastoral Leadership Search Effort, an ecumenical initiative to attract young people to the ordained ministry.
Glass remained canonically resident in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
During his tenure as rector of St. Mark's Church and School, Upland, from 1989 to 1995, Glass was a consultant to the diocesan Commission on Ministry and the Commission on Schools, and served as an examining chaplain. He strengthened St. Mark's Homeless Shelter and helped to build the support that allowed the facility to become a community ministry as Foothill Homeless Shelter. He was also president of the Pomona Valley Council of Churches. Before coming to Southern California, Glass served congregations in Virginia and North Carolina.
Glass was born July 22, 1957, in Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate of Brown University and Yale Divinity School, he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 1982 by the Rt. Rev. George N. Hunt of Rhode Island.
Survivors include Glass's sister, Stevie Champion of Rhode Island.
Further inquiries may be directed to the NAES office, www.episcopalschools.org, telephone: (toll free) 800.334.7626, ext. 6182; (New York state: 800.321.2231, ext. 6182); or direct dial 212.716.6182.