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Image of LT Donald Samuel Lee

LT Donald Samuel Lee

Lieutenant

Date of birth 05/01/1934
Date of passing 03/22/2021

Donald (Don) Samuel Lee of Essex, Maryland, beloved father, grandfather and brother was taken home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus on 22 March 2021 joining his recently departed wife.

Don was born in May of 1934 in Weymouth, MA to the late Dr. Phillip Hubbard Lee and Edith Lillian Lee (nee Mitnick). Don attended Thayer Academy, graduating in June of 1952. He then pursued a Mechanical Engineering Degree at the University of Massachusetts, graduating in 1956. After graduation Don joined the United States Navy and graduated at the top of his OCS class. Don served in the Navy Civil Engineering Corps (Seabee). While stationed in Quonset, Rhode Island, LT Donald S. Lee met his future wife, LT Eureka (Reka) Cleo Mumpower, a US Navy nurse. Don and Reka were married on 6 August 1960 and in 2020 celebrated 60 years together. After his active duty time, Don transitioned to the Navy Reserves where he served through 1970.

After the Navy, Don’s career took his family to a number of states and even England before settling in Maryland in 1971. During the course of Don’s career he built two successful coil manufacturing businesses, received a number of patent approvals, was the recipient of several professional awards and was a published author of many technical articles. Don was also a founding member of the EMCWA (Electrical Manufacturing and Coil Winding Association), where he served as board member for many years and was the recipient of the association’s 1996 Hall of Fame award. Don loved sailing, building boat models and woodworking. Several of Don and Reka’s children and grandchildren have continued the family’s history of serving their country: Mark Lee (US Navy), Gary McCluskey (US Army and US Navy), Justin Freeman (USMC), Aaron McCluskey (US Navy), and Alex Pincus (USMC).

Don is preceded in death by his wife, Eureka Cleo Lee and his brother, Norman Hubbard Lee.

Don is survived by his daughter Carol I. Freeman and husband John Freeman (Bel Air, MD), son Mark R. Lee and wife Tammy Lee (TX), daughter Diane C. McCluskey and husband Gary McCluskey (CA), daughter Tanya J. Lee (Essex, MD); grandchildren: Jason S. Freeman (Bel Air, MD), Candace I. Pincus (Freeman) and husband Alex Pincus (CA), Justin S. Freeman (Bel Air, MD), Aaron P. McCluskey (CA), Ethan K. McCluskey (CA); sister Barbara Litzen and husband Donald (FL); sister-in-law Mary Jane Lee (OH) and a number of nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Don’s wishes, his remains were donated to the Maryland State Anatomy Board for the furtherance of education and research. The family is planning to hold a celebration of Don’s life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donating to The Snyder Center for Aphasia Life Enhancement (SCALE), a specialty program of The League of Disabilities that Don participated in for many years as part of his stroke recovery.

Donations may be made on line at:

https://www.leagueforpeople.org/scale

*under “Designation” please select SCALE

Or by mail

The League for People with Disabilities

Attn: Development – for the SCALE program

1111 E. Cold Spring Lane

Baltimore, MD 21239

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Published by The Avenue News on Mar. 23, 2021.

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