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Joseph Lee Obituary
Atty. Joseph Crane Lee, 79, of Hamden, passed away at CT Hospice on February 26, 2019. He was born in New Haven on December 8, 1939 to the late Joseph Scully and Marion Crane Lee. Joe will be remembered as a devoted husband of 56 years to his wife, Mary Jo Carney Lee; loving father to his children and their spouses, Kathryn Lee of Hamden, Timothy and Gail Lee of Madison, Elizabeth and James Jensen of Van Nuys, CA, Christopher and Amy Sue (Leavens) Lee of Vienna, VA and the late Carolyn McCormack; proud grandfather of Katie, Michael, Kelly, Daniel and Penuel; father in-law of Thomas McCormack of Philadelphia, PA and brother of John E. Lee of Hamden. Joe attended Notre Dame High School, class of 1957, graduated from Georgetown University in 1961 and received his J.D. degree from UCONN School of Law in 1967; subsequently he attended Wesleyan University's GLSP program. After graduation from law school, Joe joined the New Haven firm of Tyler Cooper and Alcorn, of which he later served as managing partner; his decades-long practice focused mainly on commercial law, finance utility and administrative law. After retirement Joe was associated with the New Haven office of LeClairRyan. He had been a member of the UCONN Law School Alumni Assoc., New Haven County Bar Assoc., CT Bar Assoc. and the American Bar Assoc. Joe was a longtime member of St. Rita's Parish where he served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister and Chairman of the Parish Council. He served on the Sacred Heart Academy Advisory Board for many years and was honored for his service to the Academy as a Hearts of the Community recipient and by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a Legacy Award recipient. He also served on the boards of the Notre Dame High School Loyalty and Endowment Fund, the New Haven Boys and Girls Club, and the Hamden Land Conservation Trust.
Funeral from BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, on Saturday, March 2nd at 9:00 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated in St. Rita's Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with his family on Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in Joe's memory may be sent to the Carolyn Lee McCormack Scholarship Fund, Sacred Heart Academy, 265 Benham St., Hamden, CT 06517 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at: [email protected] To send a condolence to his family, please see his obituary at: www.beecherandbennett.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Lee
Sponsored by NHRegister.com.
John and Suzanne Leary
March 9, 2019
Mary Jo, Kathy, Tim, Chris and John...
We were away last week and just found out about Joe's passing in a conversation last night. We wish we could have shared our fond memories of him with you in person.
Please know that all of you and his memory will be in our prayers throughout this Lenten Season.
Peace and love...
...John and Suzanne Leary
Sr. Ellen Cronan
March 5, 2019
A just man with the best sense of honor and humor one can know. God bless this good man and may his family rejoice in the peace he now knows. God bless.
jean sutherland
March 4, 2019
Mary Jo "Back in the day" I was sure that you and Joe were a perfect match...Fifty-six years of marriage seems to indicate that my guess was correct...His life-time accomplishments and the family you built together are something to be proud of...I know they will comfort you in your loss...Sincerest sympathy to you and your family.
Judith McGovern
March 2, 2019
For Mary Jo: Joe Lee was one of the most brilliant lawyers I ever had the pleasure to work with. There are so many stories I could share: his office desk (Note: don't touch!), his upside down and sideway writing, my adventures driving his car to Waterbury in a near-hurricane to file court papers before 5 PM (windshield wipers weren't working properly), our suite of offices on the 10th floor, and (my favorite): Joe and Jim K and their wives treating Glenn and I to dinner at a Milford restaurant only to discover that neither one of them had enough cash to pay the bill! Rest In Peace, my friend. Your brilliance and good soul will be remembered and regaled by many.
Judith (Larson) (Kaas) McGovern
Jim Mulvey
March 2, 2019
Joe was a special guy. He and I got to know each other when he worked for Tyler Cooper.
Jim Mulvey
Ginny and Tom Gersz Sr.
March 2, 2019
Our deepest condolences to Mary Jo and family.
I have many fond memories of Joe when we attended NDHS, especially on the Track team.
He was always a good friend, teammate, and gentleman.
May he rest in eternal peace.
John & Betty Ann Carp
March 1, 2019
Mary Jo, Kathy and John,
We wish to express our sympathy to you and your family.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
John & Betty Ann Carp
Rusti Leonardo
March 1, 2019
With my deepest sympathy to Mr. Lee's family. I worked with him at TC&A ~ amazing attorney, man of integrity, always there to help you find what you needed on his "pile high" desktop. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Fondly, Rusti Leonardo
Ed Cotter
February 28, 2019
My sympathies to the Lee family. Joe and I were band members at NDHS and continued our friendship at Georgetown as classmates. A good friend and may his family be comforted...Vaya Con Dios my friend,,Ed Cotter, Class of 57 and fellow classmate at Georgetown 61
Mario Zangari
February 28, 2019
Mary Jo: Being less than a year younger than Joe, I had many occasions to interact with Joe on professional and social level. I considered him a model of professionalism and idealism. He surely earned the title of "Gentlemen and Great Guy"! We who practice in NHB will miss him. My sincerest of condolences.
Drew Caparelli
February 28, 2019
Beth I'm very sorry to hear about your dad's passing. A beautiful obituary that gave me a peek into what a true gentleman and successful person he must have been. RIP Mr Lee. My heart goes out to you and your family Beth.
-Drew
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
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Memorial Events
for Joseph Lee
Mar
1
Visitation
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Beecher & Bennett Funeral Service - Hamden2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
Mar
2
Funeral services provided by:
Beecher & Bennett Funeral Service - Hamden2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
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