Glenn Allen Sonnedecker
December 11, 1917 - June 25, 2021
Obituary
MADISON - Glenn Allen Sonnedecker, age 103, of Madison, passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021. He was born on Dec. 11, 1917, in Creston, Ohio, the son of Ira and Leta (Linter) Sonnedecker. He grew up with one brother, Donald. In 1943, he married the former Cleo Bell, and together they raised their son, Stuart, who was born in 1945.
In 1949, Glenn moved to Madison to be the first graduate student in the UW History of Pharmacy Department. In 1952, he became an Associate Professor of History of Pharmacy. From 1955-1956, he was a Fulbright Scholar and Guggenheim Fellow, affording him the opportunity to study in England and Germany. Glenn retired from teaching graduate and undergraduate students in 1986. He had full and honorary memberships in several international pharmacy organizations, and he was both Founder and Director of the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy.
Glenn’s passions included travel and music. He traveled to international conferences in North America, Eastern and Western Europe, and the Middle East. He equally enjoyed traveling with his family throughout North America and Europe. Glenn’s family background includes a history of musical talent, as his mother had played piano in theaters showing silent movies and his brother, Don, was a professional pianist and music teacher. Glenn himself played saxophone in his high school jazz band. He became a lifelong listener of classical and big band music, and collected a library of LPs and CDs, describing himself as “a discriminating collector and audiophile.” He preferred chamber music, Bach cantatas, and especially Hayden quartets. Locally, Glenn was a subscriber and supporter to the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Memorial Union Theater concerts; he also supported local musicians.
Glenn was a member of the First Unitarian Society. He also maintained active memberships in the Social Justice Committee and the ACLU.
He was preceded in death by wife, Cleo; brother, Don Sonnedecker; and his parents.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761
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Memories
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elaine stroud
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Glenn had such a dry sense of humor, and loved to laugh. He will be missed by scholars around the world, many of whom did not realize how vibrant he was even over 100!
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Anonymous
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Remarkable to live to age 103. No one gets there without the love and support of other people. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to his longevity.
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Greg Higby
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Glenn did love music (and life). In fact, he loved it enough to attend performances of my band, Jazz Ahead, at Oakwood. Glenn was a second father for me and I have always identified myself as a Sonnedecker student. -- Greg Higby
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Thomas Menighan
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Glenn was a treasured pharmacy scholar whom I met in 1987 as a young staffer at APhA. His leadership was revered and valued. On behalf of the pharmacy community we extend our sincere condolences. Tom Menighan, APhA CEO Emeritus
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Rylance Lord
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Sonnedecker Family: Being a pharmacist - historian (Lyman Spaalding, MD 1775-1821 (c)2003, I was a longtime admirer of Dr. Sonnedecker. I was privileged to give a paper on Spalding before the ASHP during the APhA convention in Chicago in 1975. I remember that, because of time constraints, it was decided that I would show my 150+ Kodachrome slides of my research in our hotel room later in the afternoon. The room was pretty crowded. My wife, Twyla, was expecting our first child at the time and was in bed. I smile now when I remember that Dr. Sonnedecker watched the slide show while sitting on the side of the bed! In later years, I presented Dr. Sonnedecker with a special copy of my Spalding book and with a glossy photo of the Rembrandt Peale 1809 portrait of Spalding. I was proud to be able to claim even a small contact with a man of Dr. Sonnedecker's fame and reputation. He certainly lived a full life - becoming, long ago. the premier pharmaceutical historian. We'll always remember Dr . Sonnedecker with great respect and reverence. Those fortunate to have studied under him were professionally blessed for sure. Rylance Lord, MSc, pharmacist (ret) Twyla Lord, RN Springfield,, Ohio