Walter O. Lee

Walter O. Lee, age 78 of Calabash, NC, died Friday, November 2, 2007 Walter O. Lee of Calabash, N.C entered into eternal rest on November 2, 2007 while vacationing in La Crosse Wisconsin. He was born on November 23, 1928 in New Haven to the late Walter E. Lee and Mary Owens Lee. Mr. Lee was a veteran of the United States Navy, the Connecticut National Guard and the United States Army. After completing his military service, he continued to serve his country by accepting an appointment to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He engaged himself in the real estate industry in the 1960's and 1970s, rising to prominence as a real estate developer in Hamden and holding the office of President of the New Haven Real Estate Board. During this time he was an instructor of real estate at the former Quinnipiac College. He finished his working career as the Director of the Office Division of the Wallingford Electrical Department. 'Big Walt' was tireless in his efforts to give back to his community. For many years he coached in the Hamden Father's Baseball and Hamden Father's Basketball Associations and the St. Rita's CYO Basketball Team. He was a commentator for many years at St. Rita Church. He served as the 4th District Councilman in Hamden during the early 1970's. Mr. Lee was an active member of the Carmel Council Knights of Columbus in Hamden, serving as a Past Grand Knight. In his later years he was a member of the Veterans of F oreign Wars Post 7288 and the American Legion Post 503 of Calabash, NC. Besides his parents, Walter Lee was preceded in death by his former wife Shirley Lee and wife Patricia Short Lee of Wallingford and Little River, SC, and his sister, Marie Landgraf, of Agana Guam.He is survived by his brother Donald Lee of Cheshire, children Walter O. Lee Jr., of New Haven, Michael Lee of Stafford, VA, Thomas and Timothy Lee and Mary Lord of Hamden. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren. His final years were spent in the loving companionship of Martha Hannon of Calabash, NC. Friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rita Church in Hamden on Saturday, November 10th at 11am. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Hamden.