Chester E. Lee, Jr.

Chester E. Lee Jr.

Proudly born and raised in the City of Lynn, Chester was son to Chester E. Lee and Cora Lee. Immediately after graduating high school, Chester joined the Air Force and was deployed to Korea. He was immensely proud of his service to the country, and he was assigned to the 3205th Air Base Squadron. During his service, Chester was presented with the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Returning home, Chester went to Salem State Teachers’ College on the GI Bill and graduated in 1957. He began a teaching career in Wakefield as a grade 5 teacher, and spent the better part of the next 36 years supporting the young people of the town in pursuit of their education. In 1974, Chester received his doctorate from Boston University and ended his academic career in Wakefield as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools. After his retirement, Chester went to Kensington, NH to serve as an elementary school principal. He enjoyed this position as his “semi-retirement” gig, but he mostly adored the community and the staff that he was able to serve in his time there.

Through it all, he was a loving grandfather to his grandkids, Allison Lee, David Lee, Aimee Lee, and James Lee. He sponsored them on multiple trips to the White Mountains, to Disney, and to his winter home in Bonita Springs, Florida, all while spoiling them and taking every picture imaginable of their activities. Each year, he would compile these photos into albums that he shared with their parents as a constant reminder of life’s priorities and the good times spent as family. He loved photography, coin collecting, and pithy phrases designed to sum up life’s challenges in just a few words. One of his favorites was, “Nothing just happens”.

Chester is survived by his brother, William Lee, of Arizona, his sons, James and David, and by his daughter Mary Beth. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald. He cherished his friends, both new and old, and had an abundance from the Williams Avenue neighborhood to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. He enjoyed the game of golf, although mostly for the camaraderie and the trash talk. His game was a constant work in progress, evidenced by the many golf books lying around his home and the manner in which he kept score. Chester passed away peacefully at the age of 92, and his entire family is grateful for the work of Brightview of Wakefield, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, and Care Dimensions Hospice. Services were private with the family, but in lieu of any flowers, the family would request support for the The Chester E Lee Family Scholarship Fund, which is part The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc. https://tsfofwakefield.org/scholarship-funds/