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Former Duke Provost Frederic Cleaveland Dies

Cleaveland, a political scientist, served as provost from 1971-78

Frederic Cleaveland, professor emeritus of political science and former provost of DukeUniversity, died Wednesday. He was 90 years old.

Duke Provost Peter Lange remembered Cleaveland fondly.

"Fred was a lovely person: intelligent, thoughtful and with a deep love for Duke and an enjoyment of people," Lange said.

Born in Phoenix, Cleaveland earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Duke, then went on to receive a Ph.D. in politics from PrincetonUniversity in 1951.

He become an assistant professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served as chairman of the department from 1958 to 1970. He came to Duke as provost and professor of political science in 1971, and served as provost until 1978.

In 1994, he helped form the "Plato Loft," a bi-weekly discussion forum in Chapel Hill modeled on Princeton seminars. Its members included former students and colleagues and retired diplomats.

For a number of years, Cleaveland and his wife, Barbara, split their time between Chapel Hill and Eastsound, Wash., where they farmed and were active in supporting the arts, the nature conservancy and the library.

Barbara Cleaveland, who taught in the UNC School of Social Work, died in August. Cleaveland is survived by three children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.