It is with deep sympathy we recognize the passing of Professor Emeritus Donald Cleveland of the Information Science Department. Professor Don Cleveland served the UNT and Denton Communities for many years. The college will pass along remembrance information as it becomes available. Please take a moment to read this letter from Donald’s partner and wife, Professor Ana Cleveland.

Message from Prof. Ana Cleveland:

Dear All:

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that our dear colleague, Professor Emeritus Don Cleveland, has passed away. His contributions to UNT are known to many of you, and his fingerprints are still visible in many aspects of the Department of Information Science functions. He was a visionary when it came to the role of information sciences in our society. His degree in computer science allowed him to have a perspective of the synergy between IT and our discipline. During his tenure at UNT, our department (formerly School of Library and Information Sciences) had a truly information science focused curriculum including courses with a computer science content. He created the first computer lab with support from the UNT administration.  He was devoted to the concept of interdisciplinary and the implications to our profession. He was the architect of our Interdisciplinary PhD. Program in Information Science which brought visibility to UNT. His students, master’s and doctoral students were challenged to use technology and conduct research (even his students in INFO 5000 – had to do a mini bibliometric study assignment!). In addition, he was committed to the program in Houston and devoted many hours to see that the program provided quality education for librarians in this geographical area.

One of Don’s grant was awarded by NIH/NLM and it was the first time that the School received such a grant. He served as a consultant to organizations such as the World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, Organization of American States, National Library of Medicine, American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rockefeller Foundation, Texas Library Association, Texas Instruments, IBM, and Electronic Data Systems (EDS) among others. Another interesting and challenging project was developing a science and technology network for 17 African countries out of Senegal. The World Health Organization funded this project, and it included a health component.

Some of you are aware of his publications professionally and otherwise ranging from information retrieval, indexing and abstracting, medical informatics, cartooning, books for young adults (on communication and the brain) and a novel.

Not only Don was my colleague, professor, mentor, coauthor, my best friend but my husband of 52 years. He lived with cancer for 40 years. He managed the condition with dignity and courage and served as an inspiration to many who had the disease with his positive and realistic attitude.

I will miss him more than I can express. His sense of humor and sound advice throughout the years will guide me in the years ahead.

-Ana