Lee passed away on December 9, 2011.

He was a unique individual that many got to know and appreciate for his  kindness, genius, and talent. 

His obituary is a testimony to the legacy he left.

~Jeff Bernard

Lee sat behind me in division, my senior year. He always drew pictures, crazy drawings, very detailed. I was in awe of his talent and found him very unique, but always was kind as I probably knew that he was different. He had a unique sense of humor and was very articulate if you actually took the time to talk with him. I would bump into him throughout my life in different circles at different times and we would always talk when ever I would see him. After the reunion I had the chance to go to Dave Horberg's with Lee one evening and drink wine, have appetizers and look through some of his more recent work. Dave had bought a painting of Lee's about 30 years ago and I had reconnected with Dave through facebook. I picked Lee up at his home in Evanston, we drove together and I took him home after. He really loved the reunion and spoke about many of the people that he had seen during the weekend.  

~Joel Rubenstein

I had some fascinating type-written letters from him last year as we prepared for the reunion. Everything about him and his thoughts was unique, and it was a challenge to follow the trail of his ideas. No one knew the counts and kings of 15th century eastern Europe like him. He also had some amazing memory categories in his brain: one time at Marc Pullman's house, he tells me, Lee met some out of town people and after asking them their addresses, he could recite the zip codes of their homes!

 In his memory, I quote him:

" By the beard of the Count Hont of Csabrag, Dregely, Varalja, Cseri, Varbok, Tot-Domanik, Also-Pomat, Bekestelke, Bagonya, Klaszita, Perendfalva, Tapolcza, Ledeny, Marot, Sallo, Suha, Hont, Vecze, Szalatnya, Teszer, Hrusso, Jablancz, and Podluzsany, it's a drag."

~Leslie Simon

I'm grateful to know how Lee used all his considerable gifts to adorn the Chicago poetry and art community. It's clear he had a rich mind and a sly sense of humor. I'm saddened to know he has passed but glad to know he touched people as he moved through his studies and stunts. I think his gentle, probing honesty asks for accountability and offers compassion. At least that's what I got from exploring his website.