Winston Lee ADAIR Jr.

ADAIR, Winston Lee Jr.

retired Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, died April 6, 2017 at his home in Temple Terrace, FL of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 72.

Born in Oak Park, IL, as the son of a naval officer, Lee lived at posts at home and abroad. Lee celebrated his 6th birthday in French Morocco and his sister's secondary graduation outside Paris. Lee earned a Bachelor of Science from Brown University and a PhD in biochemistry at Georgetown University. The same year he earned his PhD, he married Patricia Maxwell in Virginia. He went on to conduct postdoctoral research at Washington University in St. Louis before joining the faculty at USF, from which he retired in 2010. Lee's work with glycol proteins and dolichol molecules is widely recognized for their importance in understanding human cell structure.

His passion for research and his wide range of interests extended to a number of lifelong hobbies, from fishing and diving to Lepidoptera and genealogy. An avid collector of moths and butterflies, he contributed specimens to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The remainder of his collection is on display at the Florida Natural History Museum. He later turned his attention to genealogy, becoming a national reference source for others in the field.

Lee struggled bravely with Alzheimer's disease, but he did not let it stop him from being a loving and caring grandfather to his granddaughters Ella and Sarah. Lee and his wife Patricia were looking forward to celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary this autumn.

In addition to his wife, Lee is survived by his daughter, Lauren; son-in-law, Adam Rosen; granddaughters, Ella and Sarah; and his sister, Ann Adair Sparks. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa on May 6 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, family asks for donations to be made to the Alzheimer's Association.