John Frederick Glisson

John Frederick "Rick" Glisson, 64, of Atlanta, Georgia, died Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. A funeral Mass was held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 3 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta, with Fr. Brian Baker presiding, assisted by Deacon Bill McCarthy and Deacon Allen Underwood. Music was offered by the Parish Choir (W. Byrd "Ave verum" and H. Purcell "Thou knowest Lord") and Music Director Albert Ahlstrom DMA (H. Mulet "Tu es Petra" and "Carillon-Sortie", L. Vierne "Organ Symphony No. 1" and C. Widor "Toccata" from Organ Symphony No. 5). Interment will be on November 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Rome, Georgia.
Born July 1, 1951 in Richmond, Virginia to the late John Lawrence Glisson and Anne Doris Glisson, he graduated from Georgia Tech in 1973 with a degree in Chemistry and was commissioned into the Army Chemical Corps, serving in the Reserves for 8 years. After working in the northeast as a pharmaceutical chemist, he returned to Atlanta and went to work for Hill Manufacturing Company, where he eventually became Technical Director, a position he held at the time of his death.
Rick was a dedicated radio amateur and DXCC Honor Roll member with 344 countries worked. He was a charter member of Pyrotechnics Guild International, and worked as an assistant for Zambelli Fireworks at Tech homecoming games. A lifelong musician, he sang bass in the Parish Choir and rang handbells for over 20 years. He was also an accomplished guitarist, playing rock with a friend''s band and classical in concert, as well as occasionally substituting at church. He enjoyed target shooting, sporting clays, and especially SASS Cowboy Action as a member of the Riverbend Rough Riders. He was also the number one assistant with his wife''s hunting dogs, who loved him best because he was the one with the bag of treats.
Survivors include his mother, Anne Doris Glisson, his wife of 38 years, Martha McGhee Glisson, daughter JoAnne Catherine Rusch and her husband Robert L. Rusch, Jr., son Daniel McGhee Glisson, brother Charles Maher Glisson, and nieces Elizabeth and Anwhitney Glisson and Renee Glisson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.


Byars Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Cumming, Ga.