Richard Edward Kleeman

Richard Edward Kleeman, 74, of Meadville, died at home Friday, June 22, 2001 following an illness of almost 2 years.

He was born in Auburn, IN, December 12, 1926, a son of Karl and Maude Meyers Kleeman.  He married June Smith July 18, 1948, and she survives.

He attended the Fort Wayne School of Art from 1946-1948 and the Cape Cod School of Art in 1947.  He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1951 and his Masters of Fine Arts degree in 1953 both from the University of Iowa.  He came to Allegheny College in 1953 as an art instructor and was named an assistant professor in 1955, associate professor in 1962 and full professor in 1968.  He was chair of the Allegheny Art Department from 1979 to 1987 and retired in 1993 after 40 years of teaching.  In 1983, he received the Allegheny College Julian Ross Award for Excellence in Teaching.

In addition to his teaching, he had numerous local, regional and national exhibitions of his work.  He was also a consultant to the education department and co-author of the Independent Study Program of the Whitney Museum in New York City.  He also was director of the Whitney Museum/Smithsonian Institute Summer Program for Art Teachers.  He spent several summers conducting workshops for Upward Bound.  The last twelve years of teaching at Allegheny, included "Art-in-France" summer program offering studio courses in LePuy Notre Dame, France and study in Paris.  Other student trips included London, Florence, Rome and Athens.

In his retirement, he was involved with Habitat for Humanity, the Crawford County Historical Society and the Meadville Council on the Arts.  He was also a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville and a US Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife, June; three daughters, Kay Kleeman (Wiwin Darmawan) of Honolulu, HI, Ellen Stacy (Kanaredorah) of Howardsville, VA and Anne Kleeman of Jupiter, FL; two sons, Mark Kleeman (Beth) of Loveland, CO and Eric Kleeman of Austin, TX; three brothers, Robert Kleeman (Marge) of Bradenton, FL, Joseph Kleeman (Rea) of St. Louis, MO and John Kleeman (Nancy) of Windermere, FL; a sister, Anita Whitson (Clyde) of Auburn, IN;  and ten grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Walter Kleeman.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.