Glen Gustafson was born in San Diego and grew up in a working class but very interesting family. His mother was a legal secretary who worked at a prestigious law firm and often made use of season tickets to the symphony or opera when her boss was unable to attend. Her refined cultural influence was offset by the adventurous spirit of his father, a professional photographer who often took him far out to sea in their small boat to catch albacore tuna and battle sharks as they tried to take them.