Clifton McCleskey

Professor McCleskey was a vital mentor in my life who was the first to encourage me at the University of Virginia. Being the first Asian American woman in the Government department in the early eighties, I felt quite awkward and uncertain then. As one of my favorite professors in the department, I took two of his demanding yet thrilling classes on American government. He later wrote a recommendation letter for me to graduate schools which began my life journey of learning and teaching. Years...

Clifton McCleskey was a pillar of strength and, to me, a guiding light through a tumultuous, often chaotic, era in academia. A conversation with Clif was like the respite of a quiet reading room (where spirited colloquy was permitted!) in a great city library, aloof from the noise of traffic, but close to cosmopolitan concerns. (He loved the buzz of a citiy like Houston, but he chose living on a farm when he could.) His modest and gracious demeanor clothed a steely professional resolve and...

Our family has lost our guiding light, wise advisor, and patriarch. How we will miss our dear, thoughtful Uncle Clifton.

Beautiful tribute to Clifton. He may have had a long life, but he died too soon. We will miss him.

Clifton was a true scholar-gentleman in the UVA Government Department. I will never forget his soft-spoken kindnesses and mentorship as I completed my PhD. He, Inis Claude, and Henry Abraham were an exquisite trio of their generation in political science, and I hope they are now raising a glass together in the Great Beyond. May all their memories be as a blessing to all of us who had the good fortune to know and collaborate with them.

This is a beautiful tribute to a truly remarkable man. In sympathy. Kay