AARC Loses Long-Time Leader

November 12, 2013

The AARC was saddened to learn of the death of Glen Gee, RRT, FAARC, a long-time leader in the Association who served as president of our organization in 1983.

Many people will remember Gee best from his iconic photo with President Ronald Reagan and other AARC leaders in a 1982 AARC Times. The photo commemorated the signing by President Reagan of the proclamation declaring the first National Respiratory Care Week.

Pictured with President Ronald Reagan are then President-Elect Glen Gee, RRT, FAARC, center. Also pictured are then AARC President John Walton, RRT, FACHE and Gee’s young son Casey, who suffered from asthma.

Gee and his colleagues met the President in the Oval Office during Gee’s president-elect year. But his role in the AARC encompassed much more than simply the first National RC Week. He was instrumental in helping the Association move the nation towards licensure for respiratory therapists by supporting the addition of a $20,000 budget line item for state credentialing during his term as president. He also instituted the three-year sunset provision governing the review of policies and procedures in both the Board of Directors and House of Delegates.

“The younger generations of respiratory therapists have little idea of what Glen did for the profession,” says Gee’s long-time friend and colleague Richard Sheldon, MD, FAARC. “His influence was early and late, deep and extensive. His influence extended globally. From ventilator technology to computerized monitoring his creative input and instinctive advice molded his profession like only really talented people can do.”

Gee continued to support AARC activities after his presidency ended and became a Life Member. He also received the Association’s highest honor, the Jimmy A. Young Medal.

Glen Gee most recently served as senior product manager at CareFusion in Yorba Linda, CA, but before segueing into respiratory care industry, he was director of respiratory care at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA, for 15 years, serving between 1969 and 1984.