Retired Cleveland museum director dies in N. Carolina

Associated Press

CLEVELAND — Sherman E. Lee, director of the Cleveland Museum of Art for 25 years who expanded its world-renowned Asian art and Old Master collections, died Wednesday, the museum said. He was 90.

Lee died in North Carolina, where he had taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, museum spokesman Jim Kopniske said. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed.

Lee joined the museum in 1952 as curator of Oriental art and was appointed the museum’s third director in 1958. He served as director for 25 years and oversaw the opening of a special-exhibit and classroom wing in 1971.

His daughter, Katharine Lee Reed, was the museum director from 2000-05.

Lee was born in Seattle and studied at American and Case Western Reserve universities. His career included stints at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Seattle Art Museum and part-time teaching of art history at Case and UNC.