CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced details for the visitation of and funeral for long-time television play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod, who passed away suddenly, at the age of 67, on Monday evening.
McLeod’s family will receive friends this Friday, September 13th from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. at Busch Funeral and Crematory Services in Fairview Park. On Saturday, September 14th, McLeod’s funeral service will take place at noon at the Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village. The Cavaliers will live stream the funeral service at Cavs.com.
Memorial donations can be made to the NF Forward Foundation (a non-profit organization established by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, his wife, Jennifer, and son Nick to fight neurofibromatosis), the American Heart Association and Humane Society of Summit County.
“The entire Cavaliers organization mourns the loss of their great friend and teammate,” the Cavaliers said in a release announcing McLeod’s passing.
“Fred’s deep love for Cleveland and the Cavaliers was clearly evident in everything he did in and around the community and on-air during his more than 1,000 Cavalier game broadcasts. He was a true, heart-felt ambassador for the team, fans and entire greater Cleveland community.”
A Northeast Ohio native, McLeod grew up in Strongsville, a Cleveland suburb, and served as the Cavaliers’ play-by-play announcer for 13 years, starting during the 2006-2007 season. Also, McLeod served in the same capacity during the Cavaliers’ 1979-1980 season.
Along with his play-by-play announcer role, McLeod was the Cavaliers’ executive producer for multimedia, giving fans “behind-the-scenes” access to team events on Cavs.com, Cavs HQ, Twitter and Facebook with daily content.
Prior to rejoining the Cavaliers, McLeod spent 22 seasons calling Detroit Pistons games and was a television announcer for the MLB’s Cleveland Indians (1979). Also, McLeod was a broadcaster for the NFL’s Detroit Lions and MLB’s Detroit Tigers.
McLeod was honored with multiple regional Emmy Award wins as a part of the Fox Sports Ohio Cavaliers broadcast crew and was recognized with the National Academy of Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Silver Circle Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements in television.