Lee A. Berthelsen "Mr. B"

With a last tip of his hat, Lee A. Berthelsen passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the age of 90.  He was ushered into eternal life by his beloved wife Bridgette, his children, grandchildren, and dear friends, to be reunited with the loved ones who passed before him.

Lee was born on May 25, 1935, in New York City, the son of Helenya and Johann Berthelsen.  His father, a Danish immigrant who was raised in Manitowoc, WI, had an extensive career as an opera singer, music educator, and noted impressionist artist.  He was known as the “foremost chronicler of New York City snow scenes.”

In 1949, Lee received a full scholarship to St. Mark’s Preparatory School in Southborough, MA, from which he graduated cum laude in 1953.  In addition to his academic curiosities and excellence, he was a competitive athlete and semi-professional baseball player, earning the grand sum of $5.00 per game.  He received a full scholarship to Princeton University, graduating in 1957 with Dean’s List honors.

While attending Princeton, he worked for the Howard Johnson Company as a waiter in the college dining halls and simultaneously worked at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.  He also served as research assistant to several professors at Princeton to help pay his way through school.

During his college years at the Waldorf-Astoria, he worked as a bellman, doorman, package boy, laundry boy, luggage porter, elevator operator, banquet usher, and nightclub usher.  Upon graduation from Princeton, he decided on a career in the hotel business, remaining at the Waldorf-Astoria.  Lee moved to the front desk, first as a rack clerk, then room clerk, then suite manager, and finally, assistant front office manager.  At the same time, he undertook a personal training program at the Waldorf-Astoria, working on his days off and extra shifts every day for two years in order to learn each job in the hotel.  Subsequently, he was named operations analyst of the hotel and was promoted to assistant manager.  

Lee was then chosen by Hilton Hotels to be its representative on a joint task force with IBM to develop a computerized front office and back office system.  He assisted in putting together a program that utilized the then new RAMAC 360 Data Processing Mainframe.

In 1961, Lee opened the first Loew’s Hotel (the Summit Hotel in New York City) as senior assistant manager.  One year later, he was brought to the Barclay Hotel in New York as the executive assistant manager and later was given added responsibility as food and beverage director.

In 1963, Lee was chosen by Holiday Inns, Inc. to open its flagship property—the 600-room Holiday Inn of New York City.  At that time, he also served on committees of the New York City Visitors and Convention Bureau.  Lee later opened the Holiday Inn of Worcester, MA, where he served on the Worcester Convention & Visitors Bureau.  He then opened the Holiday Inn of Springfield, MA.  In 1968, he was promoted to assistant to the vice president of operations and director of development of all parent company Holiday Inns worldwide.  In 1970, he was promoted to vice president and regional director of the Highrise Division of Holiday Inns.  Later that same year, he was transferred to Brussels, Belgium, and named vice president and director of operations for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  Two years later, he was appointed corporate vice president and managing director for Holiday Inns, Inc., for the same three areas.  In these latter two positions, Lee was instrumental in the development of 64 Holiday Inns in these overseas areas and directly responsible for the opening and operations of 22 parent company hotels.  In late 1974, Lee returned to Memphis as assistant to the vice chairman of the board, Roy Weingardner, who subsequently was named chairman of the board of Holiday Inns.  After 13 years with Holiday Inns, Lee was asked to join Villacentres Ltd. in Calgary, Canada as vice president (and later president) and chief operating officer.  With Villacentres, he managed nine nursing homes and four hotels across Canada.  Each lodging property was a member of the then Preferred Hotels Worldwide.

While in Canada, Lee became active in the Preferred Hotels organization.  He served in each of the officer’s positions, as chairman of every committee, and as a member of the board of directors for almost 15 years.  He also founded and was made chairman of the Alberta Nursing Home Association.  In 1984, having been instrumental in the successful sale of the Villacentres company to a large Canadian conglomerate, Lee joined The Marcus Corporation in Milwaukee as the president and chief operating officer of Marcus Hotels, Inc. 

During his time at Marcus, Lee’s love for historic features served him well while he directed and oversaw the multi-year renovation of the original Pfister building in celebration of the Pfister’s 100th birthday in 1993. This included restoring original features in the Pfister lobby such as the grand staircase and the original 1893 marble that was discovered in front of the lobby fireplace. While the guest room floors in the original building were gutted and completely redone for the 100th birthday, Lee made sure the historic features were retained as well, including the original Servidor on the guest room doors. In 1993, with Lee’s guidance, Marcus Corporation acquired the then Americana Resort, previously known as the Playboy Resort, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Lee directed and guided a multi-million-dollar renovation and transformation of this property, that included development of three new restaurants, a new lobby area, converting the indoor pool into the current lobby bar, and a new indoor pool area. Under Lee’s leadership, Marcus Hotels grew from owning three hotels, two owned and operated and one operated for an owner, to seven owned and operated and three operated for owners. He retired in 2001.

In Milwaukee, he served on the boards of the East Town Association, the Greater Milwaukee Hotel-Motel Association, Metro Milwaukee, Inc., and the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau.  He also served as president of the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association and chairman of the board for Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

Lee was multi-lingual, speaking French and Italian fluently, as well as being conversational in German and Spanish.  He was also “tourist passable” in Flemish, Moroccan, and many other languages.  His love for languages proved to be very beneficial while working abroad.

Lee was a true Renaissance Man, the epitome of elegance and class.  He was truly a kind and caring person. He had a flair for conversation, and a love of art and opera, particularly the performances of Mario Lanza.  Lee had a rich baritone voice and could often be heard singing Lanza throughout his days—whether at home, the office, or on property locations.

Lee’s father, Johann Berthelsen, was a gifted and prolific artist.  Frank Sinatra bought more than 30 of his works.  Because of his love for the arts and deep affection for his father’s artistic talents, Lee established the Johann Berthelsen Conservancy.  It was devoted to tracking, assembling, and promoting Johann’s artworks, as well as sharing his story and providing authentication to root out copies and counterfeits.  Lee himself was also a gifted artist, and his works in pastels, charcoal, ink, and other mediums captured his personal experiences throughout his travels.

Despite all of Lee’s achievements throughout his distinguished 47-year career in the lodging industry, what was most important to him was how he respected and valued people.  “Dad did not value anyone’s importance based on watch style, car selection, job title, or forcefulness, but rather on their integrity, values, ethics, and humanity,” said son Lee Jr.  He never hesitated to open doors for others as they pursued their careers.

Lee was the cherished husband of Bridgette, loving father of Lee Jr. (Jennifer) Berthelsen-Leon, Kevin (Trish) Berthelsen-Leon, and Carol Laverty, and second father to Michelle Ostare. He was an adoring grandfather to Samantha, Lauren, Madeline, and James Berthelsen-Leon; Patrick, Kevin, and Carolyn Berthelsen-Leon; Keith and Christopher Laverty; Danielle and Brittney Fraser; and great-grandfather to Kiera Laverty.  He also leaves behind his sister Karen Wylie and former wife Carla Berthelsen.  Lee was preceded in death by his brother John, his parents Johann and Helenya, and his former wife Harriet Whittemore Berthelsen.

Private services have been held.

Lee will be deeply missed, but his impact on his family, friends, and community will not be forgotten.

A life well-lived, a man well-loved.

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This poem was created for Lee upon his retirement from Marcus in 2001.

“Mr. B”

He’s a man of great distinction; he’s a man with quite a flair
He’s a man that’s tall in stature, with silver waves of hair

He’s a man who’s quite articulate, who used good grammar from the start
He’ll ponder o’er a press release, to punctuate each part

He's a man that’s truly gifted, in extraordinary ways,
He can belt out songs of opera, yes…you would be amazed

And when he is at his greatest, receiving inspiration from above
You’ll hear the voice of Lanza, singing words from “Be My Love”

Or he may be quietly watching, old Mario movies in his home
You’d see some clips from Student Prince, or Seven Hills Of Rome

And while those notes of music, fill his home through every part
His eyes are fixed and gazing, at his father Johann’s works of art

Or perhaps he may be working, with a wooden lathe or tool
Restoring a once great piece of furniture…perhaps a simple stool

He has an eye for fashion; he’s a dapper man of clothes
Fine silks and wools and linens, these are things of which he knows

But what about his working life, he’s a hotelier through and through
For over 40 years he’s plied his craft, like no one else could do

A New Yorker honor grad of Princeton, started out at St. Mark’s prep
Began to climb the ladder, worked hard for every step

From the Waldorf’s door and front desk, to Hilton then Holiday Inns
He's led and guided others, with class and style and grins

Yet he’s always got a moment, to stop and ask just how you are
He’s warm and kind and caring, that’s why he’s come so far

He's traveled the world’s four corners, been President of Preferred,
Been host to Kings and Presidents, and is very self-assured

But yes he has his little quirks, this man of style and class…
Drinks his coffee out of styro cups, that’s tall and please…decaf

“And don’t forget three packs of sugar,” says Dolores with a smile,
“Then add one spoon Cremora…stirred just a little while”

And so we come to honor, this special man today,
His life and his commitment, 17 years he’s led the way

From humble times at The Pfister, then The Marc and Sheraton,
He stands a giant among us, we’re amazed at what he’s done

He remodeled and refurbished, revived old stones and glass,
He's gilded gold on cupolas, and shined up tarnished brass.

And saved great works and buildings, standing to the sky so tall,
That would’ve been lost for all the ages, and seen the wrecking ball,

A man who’s loved by many, take a look around you’ll see
His name is quite synonymous, with words of dignity

With vision, style, and leadership, he’s left his mark you see…
…The “M” that stands for Marcus…also stands for “Mr. B”.

Written by Allen Anderson
on behalf of all your friends at Marcus Hotels & Resorts