Austin M. Lee

Austin M. Lee died June 4, 2013, at The Glen at Willow Valley in Lancaster, PA. Born June 6, 1919, in Philadelphia, PA, he was the only child of Thomas H. Lee and Lucille Miller Lee. He attended the Philadelphia public schools and then Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, VA, graduating in 1936. He graduated from The College of William and Mary in 1940 and from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1943 and was admitted to the practice of law in Pennsylvania in 1943. He then volunteered for service in World War II, being commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and serving for three years in the American and Pacific Theaters. He qualified as an Aerial Navigator and was discharged as a Lieutenant. In 1947, he married the former Betty Pansius, with whom he had four children, all of whom survive – Susan E. Lee, Nancy Lee Papay, Thomas H. Lee, II and Robert A. Lee. He is also survived by four grandchildren, John P. Papay, Kate Papay Weingart, Elizabeth Lee and Rebecca Lee, and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Lee engaged in the general practice of law for more than 60 years in Philadelphia and Jenkintown, PA, and was a member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1956-64, representing a District in Philadelphia that included Roxborough, Manayunk and Wissahickon, and was Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee (1963-64).   For two of his four terms, he was the only Republican representative from Philadelphia County.  He later served as Executive Assistant to the Republican Floor Leader (1978) and as Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the House (1979). In 1980 he became Executive Director of the House Bipartisan Management Committee and served in that capacity until 1989. In 1991 he was appointed to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission and served as a Member of the Commission until 2001. Mr. Lee was also a long-time member of the Union League of Philadelphia (the Double Six Club) and Roxborough Lodge # 135 of the Free and Accepted Masons .He summered with his family in Avalon, NJ, since the early Fifties and remained an active member of the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor (Commodore 1971) for many years.

Graveside services in the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA, will be private.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Lee’s memory can be made to the Willow Valley Member Education Fund, Attn: HR Dept., 100 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA 17584 or to University of Pennsylvania Law School, Fund for Penn Law, 3501 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Condolences to the family can be sent to Thomas H. Lee, II, 29 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081.