David Lee

1946 - 2025

Dr. David Emerson Lee, age 78, died on October 3, 2025 in University Place, WA. He was born November 24, 1946 at Tacoma General Hospital and spent his childhood in the Pacific Northwest before moving with his family throughout the U.S. He had many fond memories of playing with siblings and cousins on his grandparents' property, which is now University Place's Homestead Park.

David received his B.A. from MacMurray College in 1968. While in St. Louis for medical school, he met Mary Anne Amad, who was working as an R.N. in the Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital nursery. The two married in May 1972 shortly before David's graduation from St. Louis University School of Medicine. A month later they moved to Boston, where he did his residency at Boston City Hospital and Mary Anne earned her master's degree in child psychiatric nursing at Boston University.

A fellowship at the University of Washington brought David and Mary Anne back to the Northwest-first to Seattle and then to Gig Harbor, where David's parents Warren and Alfhild Lee lived. He started private practice as a board-certified critical care pulmonologist in Tacoma in 1976 and saw patients at St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC), Tacoma General, and other South Sound hospitals. In 2007, he became a hospitalist with the Franciscan Inpatient Team at SJMC and St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor. He helped countless patients and their families navigate serious health crises and was known by his colleagues as a dedicated practitioner who cared for his patients with skill, kindness, and humor.

David loved being near the water and out in nature-especially if a fly rod was involved. He readily shared his knowledge, insights, and dry wit with those around him. He is survived by his wife Mary Anne, his children Jessica (Assaf) and Michael (Sean James), his brother John, his sisters Carol and Chris, and his many cousins from the extended Broback family. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Franciscan Hospice House https://www.vmfh.org/our-foundations/franciscan-foundation/ways-to-give/in-memory.