Sherman Lee, 1918-2008

For decades he was the epitome of the urbane, globetrotting museum director. A specialist in Asian art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, in 1958 he was tapped to head the place. His promotion coincided with a gift to the museum of more than $30 million — for acquistions! — from the estate of local philanthropist Leonard C. Hanna. Lee made the most of it, scooping up major canvases by the dozen and making Cleveland's Asian collection one of the finest in the U.S.

—Richard Lacayo

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