02/21/2025
Cleveland University-Kansas City announces the passing of Elizabeth Louise Fields Cleveland, former Executive Director of the Cleveland College Foundation, and wife of CUKC President Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, on February 15, 2025.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth Cleveland, former Executive Director of the Cleveland College Foundation, wife of Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, and an irreplaceable friend and colleague. Please see Elizabeth’s obituary below and join us in celebrating Elizabeth’s beautiful life and legacy.
ELIZABETH LOUISE FIELDS CLEVELAND
From the Carl and Elizabeth Cleveland family
For nearly 80 years, our Mom, Mimi, Mother, filled every space she touched with music, beauty, and grace. Elizabeth Louise Fields Cleveland died peacefully in her home, surrounded by light and love, on February 15, 2025.
Elizabeth raised five children while working full-time. She became the first person in her family of origin to complete college when, as a working mother, she returned to school to earn her Bachelor’s degree at Ottawa University. Later, Elizabeth enrolled at UMKC and completed her Master’s in Social Work degree alongside her daughter, Alexandra. Beginning in 1976, Elizabeth dedicated herself to building and sustaining Cleveland Chiropractic College, now Cleveland University-Kansas City. She served in multiple roles at the University until her retirement in 2013. Her legacy lives on there through the flourishing scholarship program administered by the Cleveland Foundation, as well as countless other initiatives she developed.
Elizabeth was a smart, organized and caring woman who found ways to touch people’s lives through her kindness and generosity. She had been taught by her beloved father to be compassionate toward people and animals, and all her life, she took in those who needed a home. She embraced all, from students and employees at the college to the friends we brought home with us. Our home became their home, our table theirs all because of the welcome Elizabeth created.
It was, however, Elizabeth’s family of seven that was her deepest passion. She taught us to mind our manners and follow through on our commitments. She taught us to love the beautiful from art to music to sunsets over places as near as the Lake of the Ozarks and as distant as Greece and Italy. We were surrounded by the music she played on the piano and the beauty she created in every home we shared. We were, as the song says, her sunshine, and she was ours. Elizabeth wanted to explore the world with us, whether that was through snarkwozzling in the yard or trekking through the Amazon on a trip that none of her children will ever forget. She relished touring the rivers of Europe with her husband. She made the simplest gatherings elegant, but never pretentious. She adored being a Mimi to her 6 grandchildren, creating special experiences with them and delighting in their accomplishments.
Elizabeth’s memory will forever be a blessing to all who knew her. Her family that journeys on together includes her husband, Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, who was her partner in life and dedicated caregiver as Alzheimer’s slowly took her away from us; her three daughters, Cindy Cleveland (and her partner, Maria Allen), Dr. Ashley Cleveland, and Alexandra Cleveland; her 6 grandchildren, Paige, Carl V, Maxwell, Sophia, Anthony and Samuel; and her daughter-in-law, Dawn Cleveland. She is also survived by her brother, James Douglas Fields, and his family. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister.
We know that our Mom, Mimi, Mother is now at peace and play with her three children who predeceased her, Allison Genoa Cleveland, Christian Ashworth Cleveland, and Dr. Carl S. Cleveland IV.
Our family is especially grateful for the compassionate and tender care provided this past year by Patricia and Rita, as well as Kansas City Hospice. Thank you for making it possible for her to be at home, surrounded with love and beauty.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Elizabeth Fields Cleveland scholarship at Cleveland University-Kansas City (https://give.cleveland.edu/donate-now/) or to Kansas City Hospice (www.kchospice.org/donate/).
A gathering to share memories of and gratitude for Elizabeth’s life will be held on Friday, March 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Rozzelle Court in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Please email marjorie.bradshaw@cleveland.edu or call 913-234-0607 for more details and to RSVP before March 21, 2025.
