Patrick Roger Cleary II, grandson of Cleary University founder Patrick Roger Cleary, has chosen to step down from his Cleary family seat on the Board of Trustees at the end of this year. Even though he is vacating his board seat, his love for the university and his commitment to the Cleary legacy bonds him to the school and will keep him actively involved as an emeritus member.
Pat II joined the Cleary board more than 20 years ago. His life and work experiences, wisdom, insightfulness and innovative ideas have been a tremendous asset to the university.
Initially, his career took him in a different direction from his grandfather and father. “I remember my father telling me to choose my own path in life. ‘It’s your life, make it your own,’ he told me.”
Pat II joined the US Navy where he served for 24 years, retiring as a Captain. Following his Navy career, he joined Litton PRC, Inc, and retired from that company as a Vice President and General Manager of the Warfare Systems Division.
A few years later, his sister, Ann, who held a Cleary family seat on the Board of Trustees, had to step down because of a serious illness. She nominated Pat for her seat and he accepted the position.
“My first memories of Cleary were at a commencement ceremony years ago when I was 5.” He recalled it as very boring for him. As he grew up, he began to understand the importance of Cleary, and “I felt privileged to know my grandfather and learn from him until he died at the age of 90 in 1948. I was 14 years old and treasured his stories and memories.”
When his grandfather stepped down as Cleary president in 1938, Pat II’s father, Owen, took his place, but three years later, following the Pearl Harbor in attack in 1941, Owen left the Cleary presidency to serve in World War II, and Patrick took over as president until Owen returned from the war as an Army Brigadier General.
In 1960, at the young age of 60, Pat II’s father died unexpectedly. He was in the midst of building a new facility for Cleary College in Ypsilanti, which opened a year later. “I still miss my dad.”
Pat II is quick to acknowledge the influence of his mother throughout his life. “She truly was the matriarch of the family, especially after our father’s passing. In fact, she received an honorary degree from Cleary in 1984. Marie died in 2003 at the age of 97.”
It was the same year that Pat II accepted the Board of Trustees’ position at Cleary.
When talking about the university, he turns to lessons learned from his grandfather and father. “From the beginning, my grandfather was focused on ensuring students would receive an education they could use right away on the job. He would visit employers across southeast Michigan regularly to learn what they needed in their employees, and he would develop a curriculum to fit those requirements. His goal was to prepare Cleary graduates for business roles that would be useful immediately in the workplace,” he says. “Even though it was not called The Cleary Mind™ back then, it was the heart of this philosophy that remains a central focus of the university today.”
Pat II’s contributions to Cleary are embedded in its mission, which remains consistent since the school opened more than 140 years ago. During his time on the board, he observed that the story of the university was not to be found anywhere on the campus. He wanted the rich history of Cleary to be shared publicly. He designed and had the mural by the entrance of the Chrysler Building, commonly called the Presidents’ Wall, installed in 2021. “We needed our story visualized and treasured,” he points out.
“When my grandfather, an orphan, came to America from Ireland, he had a good educational foundation. He could read well, he had impeccable penmanship, and he could speak English fluently. He was poor and worked in a lumber mill to save money, which delayed his graduation from high school until the age of 19,” Pat II says. “He realized it was important for him to further his education, so he went to Northern Indiana Teachers College (now Valparaiso University) in Indiana, where he studied business.” Following a year there, he studied at the Spencerian Institute of Penmanship in Cleveland, Ohio.
Pat II’s grandfather knew he could earn a decent living teaching penmanship because in the late 1800s, bookkeeping was all recorded by hand, and good penmanship was critical. Patrick traveled across southeast Michigan teaching handwriting classes until he opened the Cleary School of Penmanship in Ypsilanti on Oct. 8, 1883. Two sisters were his first two students. The school continued to grow and expand its offerings to match what employers were looking for. “My grandfather initially taught all of the penmanship classes at the school, and before all students were able to graduate, he tested each one personally.”
Pat II is extremely proud that Cleary University has weathered many challenges through its 141- year history and remains stronger than ever with enrollment steadily rising. He has worked directly with three presidents and is very pleased with Cleary’s direction.
The university developed a sports program 12 years ago, and with this addition, “Cleary has been able to offer many scholarships to student athletes who want to continue their athletic career, but can’t compete for scholarships at big schools,” Pat explains. “Adding a sports program has been good for the school’s success,” he finds. “Cleary athletes can play their sport and get a good education from one of the best business schools in the state.”
Pat II also recognizes the work of President Alan Drimmer who has brought many innovative ideas to the university, such as the public safety accelerated degree program, which he calls a “terrific success.”
Looking into the future of education, Pat II recognizes that many students are choosing skilled trades instead of a four-year college degree, however, “Cleary’s strong foundation, The Cleary Mind ™ philosophy, and the school’s entrepreneurship strengths will guide this university to longstanding longevity,” he says with confidence. “I am proud to see my grandfather’s legacy remains embedded in the school he founded, and I am especially proud that I can be part of it.
“Cleary has some movers and shakers who will continue to lead the school’s sustainability,” he adds. “Cleary has found its niche, and it is a niche on which we will continue to build.”
What is next for Patrick Roger Cleary II when he steps down from the Board of Trustees?
“My work is not done,” he says with conviction. “I will keep my eyes on Cleary’s future and direction. We need to set up a campaign to gain funding, and I hope to be part of that effort.”
When his son, Patrick Roger Cleary III (a retired Navy Captain himself, who also serves on the Cleary board along with his second cousin, Anne McKenny), was asked about his dad’s future plans, he says, “He’s not going anywhere. He felt it was time to step down from the board but not away from Cleary. He will have an emeritus seat and will continue to guide Cleary in the direction my grandfather and great-grandfather wanted. It is very important to him that Cleary stays on the same track my great-grandfather designed.
“My father has dedicated a lot of time, effort and money to make sure the board follows what my great-grandfather wanted for the school, by getting the right people on the board, and by working with three presidents to make sure they were looking at the right goals and right direction for the university. He was very interested in the success of Cleary, and he worked with three presidents to make sure they followed the same philosophy: how Cleary should look at the future and what it needs to succeed in the long run,” Pat III points out.
“It has been a lot of fun serving on the board with my father; we get along tremendously, we think a lot alike, we learn from each other, and we complement each other. He is focused on maintaining the vision of Cleary and not losing sight of why it was founded. “I look at Cleary as a company that needs to thrive financially. It makes for a great balance. My father led with purpose and conviction, and I believe that is why Cleary has sustained for close to 150 years without a pause.
“This university is a great source of pride for my grandfather, my father, me and my entire family,” Pat III adds.
“Pat cares deeply about the students and the student experience,” reports Anne McKenny, Pat’s cousin who holds the second family seat on the board. “He cares deeply about the endowment and ensuring the growth of, and appropriate use of it. And he cares deeply that those serving on the board understand the legacy of the institution and support it. It was important for Pat to connect with students personally, to hold his peers accountable for supporting the university, and to communicate with all of the staff. Pat really loves Cleary – the staff, students and its mission, and he is very proud of the family heritage,” she says.
“Pat has brought enormous insightfulness and wisdom to Cleary,” announces President Drimmer. “His leadership abilities, his innovativeness and his love for this university are evident in his work. He is a tireless advocate for ensuring his grandfather’s legacy remains at the heart of this university, and I believe it is this vision that has steered Cleary to grow stronger. We have a great future ahead of us, thanks to the work of the Cleary family.”
