Alexander Lee

1993 - 2022

Alex Lee, a cherished, brave, fun, force of nature, was born April 7, 1993. He passed away at Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital from complications of congenital heart defects on June 25, 2022.

He was held by loving family members as he comforted them to his last breath.

Alex was born with Down syndrome and serious congenital heart defects. With the best medical care available, and the love of his family, friends and Heavenly Father, he overcame what many thought were overwhelming obstacles.

With a lifelong positive attitude and zeal, he lived and loved a robust life. He enlivened every place he went and showed us a kinder, gentler world.

Alex was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an ordained deacon. He enjoyed passing the sacrament. He always looked dapper in his Sunday attire and his fine choice of hats. To all family younger than him, he was affectionately known as "Uncle Alex," and he loved his nieces and cousins beyond measure.

He was a bit of a "rascal," which only made him more endearing to everyone around him.

He attended Ladd Elementary pre-school, Joy Elementary, Tanana Middle School and Lathrop High School. He rocked school band classes from fourth grade through high school and loved the Lathrop Pep Band and school proms. He was a regular at Fairbanks opera and symphony events and performed with the University of Alaska Fairbanks' 64.8 Percussion Ensemble. Alex enjoyed classes at the UAF Summer Music and Visual Arts Academy, where his photography was recognized as distinctive. Alex loved the Fairbanks Community Band and was a donor. His appreciation for every music genre - from the Beatles, Beach Boys, B52s and Disney, to Christmas, classic and country - was legendary, and he was known to bust out many an amazing dance move.

Alex's sister, Avalon, nurtured his love for music but also knew how to take care of his many medical needs, which she did with competence and love throughout his life. He enjoyed watercolor painting and was able to raise money for charity at a First Friday event with one of his many paintings.

As a young child, Alex was often seen on the slopes at Moose Mountain in his father's backpack and later in an adapted ski device designed by his sister, Nichole. His gleeful squeals and the ride back up the hill in the bus are cherished memories. He also spent meaningful time fishing with his father and special fishing partners, sister Erin and Uncle Robin.

Alex consumed legendary amounts of pasta. He didn't care for "sweets," but Coca-Cola ruled his short beverage list. To say that spaghetti with meat sauce and a Coke was motivational was an understatement.

Christmas was Alex's favorite time of year. It wasn't about receiving presents but choosing gifts and enjoying the music, decorations, family time and spiritual reflection. The Fairbanks Symphony holiday concert thrilled Alex, and he enjoyed adding his raspy little voice to the "Hallelujah Chorus." Typically, Alex started Christmas in July and wound down in February. He believed in and wrote letters to Santa his whole life.

Alex was enamored by every type of vehicle, and he was always excited by trains, planes, boats, RVs, tractor-trailers, trucks, heavy equipment and antique cars, and he dreamed of operating them all. He exuded the "John Deere" spirit. He was a consummate Farm Simulator player on his X-Box and grieved when he lost all his "chickens" because he didn't clean up their "droppings." Alex dreamed of being a chicken farmer; however, the reality of winter transformed that goal into "worm farming," where the worms were gently housed in a five-story "worm hotel" inside. He and best friend and business partner, Sabrina, sold composting worms at the Tanana Valley Farmer's Market.

He was a great traveler and relished seeing new things. It nearly took security to remove him from the Natural History Museum in D.C. at closing. He loved the beach and talked often of the wonderful Make-a-Wish trip he had to Disneyland, where spent the day with Woody and Buzz. He enjoyed many trips with his family and extended Sadler family and especially with his life-long best friend and soul-mate, Sabrina Sadler. Sabrina and Alex met in kindergarten at Joy Elementary, and their love for each other was the kind of love we might all wish for.

It was an honor for Alex to be selected by the Ice Men at Eielson Air Force Base to be a "Pilot for a Day." He took his honorary commission as a third lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force very seriously and respectfully saluted all persons in military uniform.

Alex adored animals, especially dogs, and was privileged to have been a veterinary volunteer at Mt. McKinley Animal Hospital and Raven Veterinary Clinic. He gently petted many a dog, helping them to wake up for their trip home. Alex's own dogs are missing his presence. Sabrina and Alex would often meet at Creamer's Field, where they walked in the summer, and he cleaned up after hundreds of dogs in the winter.

Alex delighted in participating with all his friends in Special Olympics, Fairbanks North Star Borough Adaptive Recreation Program and the Palm Desert Recreation Programs. The Zoom programs kept Alex and others with special needs in contact with each other and engaged in fun, meaningful activities throughout the Covid pandemic. Alex was a Special Olympic swimmer and especially enjoyed trips to Anchorage for the Summer Games, where he was able to realize his dream of living in a dorm room (short-term). Never mind his gold and silver medals, it was all about the dorm room and seeing his many buddies. He looked forward to monthly "Special O" dances and rarely missed one.

In 2006, Alex faced a life crisis, and with a miraculous 11½ hour heart surgery, Dr. V. Mohan Reddy and team, then of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, repaired his heart, replacing all his valves in a ground-breaking operation. Alex recovered quickly, grew eight inches and was able to live a very active life.

It is true that it takes a village to raise children, and it is also true that how we treat those with special needs, seen and unseen, is a measure of our worth in the here and now and eternally. Alex would always refer to "all the good people," so, to the hundreds of good people including family, teachers, instructors, classroom aides, coaches, school staff, administrators, doctors, nurses, technicians, custodians, bus drivers, bus aides, recreational and resource specialists, store clerks, community and church leaders, restaurant staff, the amigos at Taco King, amicis at Geraldo's, chongs at Seoul Gate and any we might have missed, our family sincerely "Thanks You" for being caring, good, loving people. You all added to Alex as he evolved into the wonderful person he became.

We miss you little rascal, buddy and dapper dude. When we hear the Disney song, "You've got a Friend in Me," we'll feel your kind spirit. Your worn out heart held perfect love. We are so privileged to be your family. Until we are reunited, know that we love you.

Alex was pre-deceased by uncle Robin Lee, sister Erin Lee, grandparents Myles and Bernice Gibson, grandfather Qu Tai Lee, cousin Hunter Lemke, and "auntie" Diana Bongiovanni.

He is survived by his parents, Patrice and Guy Lee, grandmother Dorothy Lee, sisters Avalon Lee and Nichole (Lee) Tham, (Wing, Kailee and Lilee), Uncle Dane Lee, Aunt Sandra Lemke and cousins Jeremy Lemke (Renee, Tanner, Xander), and Jamie Lemke Stevens (Nick, McKinley, Myles, Mazy) and extended family. Also mourning his loss are his soulmate Sabrina Sadler, Dawn and Jerry Sadler, and extended Sadler family, including all caregivers who loved him like a son, Chandra Ramamoorthy, Jeanne Olson, Bethany Russell, "uncle" Fred Bongiovanni, Nigel and Avalon Wappett, and Pamela Throop.

A memorial service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 403 Lazelle Road, (across the Steese Highway from Seekins Ford) at 6:30 p.m. July 26, 2022. Services will be available via Zoom at bit.ly/3PyWdXJ.

In honor of Alex's cheery self, please wear your favorite colors.

A celebration of Alex's life will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, 2022, at the John Deere Building, 1285 Van Horn Road. In his memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Access Alaska in Fairbanks (accessalaska.org), noting "For Fairbanks"; Make-A-Wish-Alaska (bit.ly/3yTx6s1); Alaska Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (280 Brighton Dr. Fairbanks, AK 99712); or the Fairbanks Community Band (www.fairbankscommunityband.com).