Richard L. Cleveland

Richard L. CLEVELAND Dedicated to family, justice, peace, and an embracing faith, Richard Lee Cleveland, bornin Seattle on July 2, 1930, died March 1, 2010 at home surrounded by family. He will be remembered by family and friends for his integrity, humility, kindness, and sense of humor. He lived his life with a grace and dignity that inspired those who knew him.A man of words, both spoken and written, he was always surrounded by books, whether at home in Seattle or on his beloved Lopez Island. Dick Cleveland graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948 and received a BA from the University of Washington in 1952. He is a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. At the University, he was Air Force ROTC, and on graduation was assigned to Russian Language School at Syracuse University. After completing the course, he was stationed in Washington DC, where he met his future wife, Nancy. Upon discharge from the Air Force as a Captain, he attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1959. Dick returned to Seattle and began his career with the Ryan law firm, which later became Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland. He retired as a partner in 1995. In 2009, he received an award for 50 years of distinguished service to the legal profession in Washington State. Dick was faithful to, and very engaged with those causes important to him. He served on the boards of L'Arche Noah Sealth, the Frye Art Museum, Friends of the Seattle Public Library, and Friends of the University of Washington Library. He was involved in the Episcopal Church, especially with the Diocese of Olympia, where he served on Diocesan Council, Planned Giving Commission, Center for Spiritual Development and St. Mark's Cathedral Foundation Board. As an active member of Church of the Ascension in Magnolia, Dick participated in many capacities, including the vestry and as Senior Warden. He attended Grace Episcopal Church when in residence on Lopez Island. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy Pyfer Cleveland, three daughters, Ann Cleveland Vahey (Brian), Jennifer Cleveland Stout (Stewart) and Mary Cleveland Brown (Carl), and four grandchildren, Caroline, Joshua, Rebecca, and Nicholas. His brother, Donald, Ann Arbor, Michigan, also survives him. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Edward Cleveland and Mabel MacDonald Cleveland. A celebration of Dick's life will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 2330 Viewmont Way West, Seattle, WA 98199 (Magnolia) on Saturday, March 20 at 1 PM. Contributions may be made in his name to Friends of the Seattle Public Library, Providence Hospice of Seattle, or American Friends Service Committee.