Lee R. Chesney Jr.

Lee R. Chesney Jr., 95, passed away January 21, 2016 in Yucaipa, California from cancer. He is survived by his wife of 73 years Betty Jo, son Lee III, daughter Terril, sister Rena, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Lee served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 - 1946 attaining the rank of Captain in the Medical Administration Corps. An artist and professor, Lee was educated at the University of Colorado, Boulder (BFA in Painting) and at the University of Iowa (MFA in Printmaking). He taught at the University of Illinois from 1950 -1967 and was Chairman of Graduate Programs in Painting and Printmaking there. He served as Associate Dean of Fine Arts at the University of Southern California from 1967 to 1972. Lee was professor of Art and Chairman of Graduate Art Programs at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu from 1972 - 1984 and Professor Emeritus from 1984 - 2016. He was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship to Japan and a University of Illinois Research Grant to France and Italy. His works have been shown in over one hundred national and international exhibitions and he has had 25 solo exhibitions in New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle and Honolulu. In addition, he was a Visiting Professor and Artist at numerous national and international schools. Lee Chesney was a passionate artist and a dedicated teacher who always challenged his students to clarify their thinking and artistic expression. He is remembered for his dry wit and his long entertaining stories, usually shared over a meal. He was playful with his grandchildren and demanding of his students. He inspired all who knew him to expand their horizons and to accomplish more than they believed possible. A Memorial Exhibition will be held to honor Lee on Sunday July 17, 2016 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm at his studio 5726 West Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.