MAURICE LEE Obituary

LEE--Maurice D. Jr., age 94, a longtime resident of Cranbury, NJ, died on July 12, 2020, as a result of a fall. Born in 1925 in Buffalo, NY, he was educated at the Hotchkiss School and Princeton University, from which he received his Doctorate in 1950 after service in the Navy at the end of WWII. A distinguished historian of 16th and 17th Century British/Scottish history, he spent his life as a college professor, teaching generations of undergraduates and graduate students; first at Princeton University from 1950-59, then at the University of Illinois until 1966, and finally at the Douglass College Department of History at Rutgers University. He eventually chaired the History Department at Douglass, and in 1987 he was appointed the Margaret A. Judson Professor of History in honor of his distinguished predecessor at the College in the Tudor/ Stuart field. A prolific writer, he wrote ten books, primarily focused on the Stuart period of British/Scottish history. For his lifetime of work in Scottish history, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 1994 from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Although he officially retired from Douglass in 1996, he continued to teach at the College, and publish, for many years thereafter. Maurice was deeply engaged with his friendships, politics, theatre, current events; he always had a book on hand. In the arts, his first love was opera, a lifelong passion. He was still attending Saturday matinee productions at the Metropolitan Opera in New York until the pandemic brought the curtain down on live performances in the spring of this year. His wife of over 50 years, Helen, died of Alzheimer's in 1999. He is survived by two children, Maurice D. Lee, III, and L. Blair Lee, five grandchildren, three great- grandchildren, and his partner of many years, Laurine Purola. Because of COVID-19, a memorial has not yet been scheduled. As a strong supporter of women's education, contributions may be made to the Institute for Women's Leadership at Rutgers University.

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Published by New York Times on Sep. 13, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for MAURICE LEE

3 Entries

Gordon Schochet

November 11, 2020

I am shocked and deeply saddened. Mo had been a colleague and a valued, dear friend since he came to Rutgers in 1966. He was, without question, the sweetest person at the University. I was honored to have been asked to speak about his research at his retirement fete, but I talked even more about his warmth, kindness, and friendship, and his charm and understated humor. One of my fondest memories of Mo has to do with the small writing table that sat in the area near his front door. Once, he proudly told me that it was the desk at which his relative, Richard Henry Lee, using words that soon became integral parts of the Declaration of Independence, had composed the Resolution calling for American independence. "Gee, Mo, I replied, would you adopt me?" Without missing a beat or a breath, Mo asked, "What would be in it for me?"

Michelle Patient Lewis

October 19, 2020

Hard to describe my relationship to Mo Lee - student, then research assistant, mentee, friend. I knew him for 30 years. He was a delight as a professor, then as an employer when I transcribed Jacobean documents for his books, and then great fun as a friend. He and Laurine would visit my husband and me on their trips to the UK. I am deeply saddened to learn via Legacy that my dear friend has passed away, yet this method of learning this news can't be helped during the pandemic. We spoke every six weeks or so on the phone, and Mo loved to discuss politics, history, university politics (both Rutgers and the Florida public system where my husband works), history of course, and was always keen to hear news of my daughter's academics. My life is so much richer because I had Maurice Lee in it, and I learned so much from him. He influenced me to do my graduate work in the UK in history. He always spoke so fondly of his family. Laurine, you were a joy to spend time with at our dinners in London and Saffron Walden. Sending all of you love and deepest condolences.

Simone Taylor

September 13, 2020

Please except my deepest sympathies, Grief can be so hard, but your special memories can help you to cope. Remembering your loved one today and always.

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