Yarmouth – Harrison Randolph Glennon III, “Ran,” passed away on September 27, 2025, at 77 years young, after being diagnosed in July with an aggressive form of brain Cancer.
Born to Harrison and Dickie Glennon on December 9, 1947, in New York, NY, Ran was raised in Riverside, CT. He attended the South Kent School in Connecticut, graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in French Literature, and earned an MBA from Boston University. After finishing his sophomore year in 1968, he took a leave from Hamilton to enlist in the Army and serve in Vietnam. He was a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and Sergeant in a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit. Though he broke the family mold by joining the Army, as generations of Glennon men had storied careers in the Navy (the first USS Glennon destroyer was part of the Invasion of Normandy in June of 1945), he was raised with a strong sense of duty to country.
Fittingly, Ran met his future wife, Ann Gollon, on a New Year’s Eve at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Cardigan Lodge in New Hampshire. Apparently fate, and a shared love of the outdoors, brought them together. Both lived in Boston at the time, but soon found their way to Maine. They were married in 1984 at the stone chapel long admired by Ran at the base of the Mount Washington Hotel (also fitting). The minister commented that Ran was the first man he met who chose the church before the bride.
Ran had an extensive career in commercial real estate appraisal, culminating in owning Eastern Appraisal and Consulting in Portland. Determined to be the consummate professional, he held several designations (MAI, AI GRS, and CRE), and at one point was President of the Maine Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. He often served as an expert witness in court, and enjoyed unique appraisal problems such as peat bogs, ferry terminals, and air rights. He took pride in doing the right thing, often finding himself across the aisle from a heavily capitalized firm.
Ran was active in his son’s Boy Scout Troop, introducing many boys to the rewards of time spent in nature. He embodied the “Be Prepared” motto, and led many a young scout across the Knife Edge on Katahdin, up Tuckerman’s on Mount Washington, or across New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch. To this day, he lovingly (and annoyingly) asked family members to carry an ID to aid Search and Rescue in identifying the body in the event someone got lost.
With a “the-day’s-half-over” at 8:00 a.m. mantra, Ran took pride in his to-do list: presently 505 items, with 265 flagged “to do now.” He took up piano a few years ago, teaching himself after a 60-year hiatus, and regularly practiced his French [a book of conversational French is in the back seat of his Subaru alongside a half-eaten, sugar-laden (“white death”), chocolate chip muffin].
And then of course there is Ran the climber and mountaineer. He began rock climbing at Quincy Quarries in Boston over 50 years ago – a natural transition from jumping out of planes behind enemy lines in Vietnam. Once he was caught at the end of a climbing approach with rocks in the bottom of his pack, for training. Just prior to his diagnosis he was still leading challenging routes at Cathedral Ledge. The “kids” (not even half his age) at EVO rock gym marveled at what this old guy could do. He taught rock and ice climbing with the Appalachian Mountain Club for decades, always focusing on sound technique and prioritizing safety. The influence he had in mentoring many young climbers cannot be overstated. He climbed throughout the U.S., Canadian Rockies, Mexico, Europe and the Himalayas. Ran loved both travel and efficiency, so why squander a minute in the airport at the end of a climbing trip, when he could spend an hour at the Louvre, or start planning his next adventure on the plane ride home?
In 1982 at the annual AMC Climber’s Dinner, he received his first of several novelty awards: “The Fitness Award to Ran Glennon: Who runs, swims, eats salads (tons), bikes, and climbs in the same day then wonders if he has done enough – signed Weldon Calories.” And perhaps even more representative of Ran, in 2004 he was honored with the “Still Got It” Award. Always modest, he accepted these and other accolades with Humor.
Though less intense than climbing, Ran loved the serenity of hiking, completing a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1976. He began hiking with his children at a young age, carrying them – one in the front, one on the back – up countless trails in Maine and the White Mountains. He loved the rugged trails of the East, and you could count on him to say “now that’s more like it” on the steepest part of the trail. In keeping with his military and Boy Scout background, he insisted his hiking companions were well prepared at all times, regardless of the length of the hike, elevation gain, or season (“bring everything you need to spend the night outside”).
Ran often observed that many climbers did not lead well balanced lives, given the training, commitment, and sacrifice the sport can require. He was determined to do otherwise, and nowhere is this more apparent than in his family life. He of course enjoyed watching his son and daughter play sports over the years, from t-ball to Colts to lacrosse and soccer state championship games. But Ran was much more a doer than an observer. When the kids were young, the family traveled to Italy’s Dolomites, hiking in the valleys and staying in high mountain huts. Along with countless camping trips in New Hampshire, Acadia National Park, and Colorado, the “family vacation” became a must-do. Over the years the Glennons travelled to Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Mexico, many islands in the Caribbean, and backpacked half of California’s John Muir Trail. But perhaps the most memorable trip of all was in 2001, when the family spent three months in their VW Westfalia (“Campie”) touring 23 National Parks, driving 9,000 miles, hiking over 250 miles together, and sleeping under the stars along the way. More recently, it was a great joy of Ran’s to welcome his son-in-law DJ and grandson Harry into our family.
Last but not least, Ran adored his cats, Paws, Whiskers, Finn, and Rose. Finnie would often sit on Ran’s lap while he played the piano (claiming Finn was fond of Rachmaninoff).
Ran was predeceased by his parents, Harrison and Dickie (Bailey) Glennon, and his brother, Francis Glennon. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ann Glennon, of Yarmouth, ME; his son, Benjamin Glennon of Boulder, CO; his daughter, Elizabeth, husband David, and grandson Harrison (“Harry,” named after Ran) Hessler of Falmouth, ME; brother-in-law, John Gollon of Rochester, NY; and niece, Katherine Gollon of Porter, ME. He also leaves behind several cousins, their children, and many, many friends from every chapter of his remarkable life.
Dad, you instructed us to “Carry on.” We will do our best; you gave us the tools. We love and miss you every day. Love, Mom, Ben, and Bessie.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ran’s memory to the Appalachian Mountain Club.