Cleveland L. Null, D.D.S.

Dr. Cleveland Leroy Null died Sunday, October 13, 2024, at home, surrounded by his loving family following a long bout with cancer. Leaning on his devout faith, he freely chose in the end to discontinue his many years of chemotherapy and other treatments. 

Cleveland was born on VJ Day, August 14, 1945, in Washington, D.C. to Lillian and Francis Null. He was raised in Alexandria and Arlington, Virgina. He is survived by a devoted wife, Betsy of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; three loving children, Jason Null of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, Mary Catherine (Kate) Reisinger of Harney, Maryland, and Jeffrey Null (Melissa) of Urbana, Maryland; and seven beautiful, precious, grandchildren, Taylor, Andrew, and Faith Reisinger, Derek and Landon Null, and Abigail and Nathaniel Null. He is also survived by his sister Virginia Marie Holst of Hvalso, Denmark; his three nephews Erik, Steven, and Christian Holst; and lifelong friends James Thomas, John Walrod, James Roberts, and Sharron Plomin. 

Dr. Null graduated from Washington & Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia in 1963. He attended Columbian Preparatory School for one semester and joined the U.S. Navy Reserve to obtain an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Having decided not to attend the Naval Academy after his academic acceptance he went to work for the remainder of the year with Potomac Electric Power Company. In 1964 he attended the University of Virginia until the summer of 1966, at which time he entered the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant the following June 1967 and was designated to the Corps of Engineers as a combat engineer. He was subsequently stationed in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany from July 1967 to June 1969 where he served as Chief of Supply and Maintenance for the Rhineland Engineer District of Europe. In 1970, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. After turning down promotion to captain, he returned to the University of Virgina until June of 1972 where he earned his degree in Biology. Upon graduation he worked for Local Ironworkers Union #5 out of Washington, D.C. for one year until August 1973 when he entered the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry in Richmond, Virginia. There he first met his future wife, Betsy. Upon graduation from dental school in May 1977 he returned to the Army as a dentist assigned to the 8th Division supporting the 2nd Infantry in Uijungbu, South Korea several miles south of the DMZ. Following this hardship tour he returned to Richmond, Virginia and served at Ft. Lee, Virginia until June 1979. He valued highly his years of military service and was proud of the fact that he possessed four Honorable Discharges. He was married in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on August 5, 1978, to his loving and beautiful wife Betsy Bliley of Richmond, Virginia. 

On June 7, 1979, with no money to his name, only a dream, he opened his dental practice with the support of his wife. Together they provided committed and loving care to their patients and supported their staff as though they were family. A visionary focused on kindness, compassion and generosity, he and his wife built a large, successful and comprehensive private dental practice over the course of nearly 40 years. His devotion to his family was reflected in the care of his patients and staff. His philanthropy to his community, staff and strangers was unprecedented and will never be matched.

He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren deeply and showed his unconditional love in many ways. He was most proud of his family from which he drew much of his strength; his family was everything to him. A former marathon runner from his Army days, he also was an avid skier and golfer. He enjoyed spending time with his family, supported the academic and athletic aspirations of his children and grandchildren, actively supported his church, hosted family and friends on trips to St. Thomas U.S.V.I., and was an enthusiastic supporter of Mount Saint Mary’s men’s basketball and The University of Virginia football and basketball programs. He was also an advocate for law enforcement in proud support of his sons Jason and Jeffrey, who have both been employed by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. 

Dr. Null’s family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff of Amedisys Hospice of Gettysburg. 

A viewing shall be held at Stauffer Funeral Home located at 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD on Thursday, October 17 from 4 - 7pm. Service shall be held on Friday, October 18 at 11am (visitation from 10-11) from the funeral home chapel, with burial immediately following at Grace United Christian Church of Christ Cemetery on 49 W Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnel To Towers or your favorite local charity. 

Dr. Null desired only that he be remembered for his kindness.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.