CLEVELAND.-The Board of Trustees and staff of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) mourn the loss of Dr. Sherman Emery Lee (1918-2008), who passed away on July 9. Dr. Lee served as director of the Cleveland Museum of Art from 1958 until 1983. He left an indelible mark on this institution through the acquisition of many of the most significant and treasured works of art in its collection, the expansion of its facilities, and a strong commitment to scholarship. Esteemed for his broad knowledge of the history of art and sound aesthetic judgment, Lee was instrumental in encouraging a broader appreciation of Asian art among art historians and the general public.

“He was a towering figure in our field. The fruits of his work–and, most especially, his passion for the history of art–can be seen in virtually every area within our collection, which today is considered one of the finest in the country,” said Timothy Rub, director of the CMA. “Of the seven directors who have served the CMA and shaped the institution and its collections, Sherman was without doubt the most influential.”

Born in Seattle, Lee grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. Dr. Lee received both bachelor’s and master’s of arts degrees from American University, and a doctoral degree from Case Western Reserve University. He served in World War II in the Pacific as a naval officer and navigator. After World War II, Dr. Lee served as a civilian advisor to the staff of General Douglas MacArthur on the protection of Japanese artworks. Dr. Lee joined CMA in 1952 as curator of Oriental art and became the institution’s third director in 1958. Before coming to the CMA, Lee served as curator of Far Eastern art at the Detroit Institute of Art and associate director of the Seattle Art Museum.

Devoted to and supportive of his wife, Ruth, during 70 years of marriage, Lee was a dedicated father to his four children and a loving grandfather to six grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. He is remembered as an avid outdoorsman.