Rex James Cleveland

Rex James Cleveland

Rex Cleveland was born in Manhattan New York but called Chicago Illinois his home town, where he grew up from age 3. His mother, Martha Doheny Cleveland, a single-parent, a teacher and later a principal for the Chicago Public Schools, taught him how to learn on his own and to explore his environment. Rex enjoyed being a free-range child.

No surprise he grew up to become a free-range adult. Rex traveled coast to coast in the United States and in Canada and north to south in Mexico, either on his bright red Harley Davidson or in his Volkswagan Van. Interested in anyone he met, anywhere, Rex picked up hitchhikers along the way. While recovering from a serious motorcycle accident, he learned the Morse Code and from his bedside communicated with people from around the globe.

In 1967 Rex married Mae Evelyn Zigler in Chicago and the two began their adventurous life together by hitchhiking around Europe for three months. Over their 49 years together their favorite times were the lengthy road trips throughout the U.S. and around Canada and Mexico. They traveled many backroads, music blaring from the tapes and CDs of Rex's extensive music collection. When Mae was behind the wheel, Rex often would play his harmonica on those long stretches on the road.

Among their favorite places were the National Parks, particularly Canyonlands, Zion, Canyon de Chelly, and the Grand Canyon, some of the places his mother took him on her summers off from teaching.

A graduate of Loyola University in Chicago with a degree in English, Rex taught in the Chicago Public Schools.

He worked with the Juvenile Court system as a probation officer in Chicago and in Atlanta Ga. Working with underprivileged young people was one of his passions. After earning his graduate degree in school psychology at Illinois State University, Rex worked in that capacity for the Chicago Public Schools.

In 1970 Rex was accepted into the psychology program at Florida State University in Tallahassee Florida. The university turned out not to be a good fit for Rex, but Tallahassee was for him and Mae. They loved the natural setting of this small town and wasted no time canoeing the many rivers, swimming in the sinks, and joining the running community.

Rex worked as a journalist and editor for various publications. He loved writing about people. It is no wonder his stint as Gulf Winds Track Club newsletter editor from 1983 to 2000 was so popular. He told stories of club members, reported on all levels of road and track athletes, and celebrated local runners of all caliber.

These Club members were Rex and Mae's support crew as he battled first Alzheimer's disease and then pancreatic cancer.

The Big Bend Hospice gave superlative care and support during Rex's final months and fully deserve any contributions in Rex J. Cleveland's memory. A more peaceful final days could not have been better provided.

Rex Cleveland died September 14, 2016, age 77.

A service will be held at a later date. Todd Wahlquist with Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. 850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com