Lee James Becker

Lee was raised in Park Place, Pennsylvania in a Ukrainian-American household surrounded by his maternal grandparents, uncles and aunt. He often recalled the swimming hole behind the house up the mountain, his jobs as a forest fire fighter and auction house runner (a coveted job for $20 an hour in the 1950’s) as highlights of his childhood in Park Place. In high school Lee was a member of the basketball team and played the trumpet in the band. He graduated from Mahanoy Area High School in 1960. Lee’s high school merged after his sophomore year and he always made it clear to differentiate between the two schools!

In the fall of his senior year of high school Lee watched a nationally televised University of Miami football game played at the Orange Bowl. He was inspired to apply and off he went to Coral Gables in the fall of 1960. He graduated with a B.B.A degree in economics and a minor in Russian history from the University of Miami.

In 1966 Lee was drafted in the Vietnam War and he served in the U.S. Army. Lee took the GRE in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Following his tour in Vietnam, he enrolled at American University in Washington, D.C. earning a M.S. degree in the new field of computer science.

After his service in the Army and moving to the Washington, D.C. area, Lee began a life-long federal government career in national security. He settled in Reston, Virginia with his now former wife, Grace, where they welcomed daughter Sydney.

Lee’s love of coffee turned into a hobby when he owned and operated a few coffee shops in Virginia and Maryland. A highlight was exploring coffee plantations in Central America.

In retirement Lee yearned for Florida and he moved to Southern Hills with now former wife, Donna. He thoroughly enjoyed many years in Florida golfing with friends, afternoons on the back porch of the golf club and his lanai. He would often call his granddaughter with sightings of turkeys.

Lee picked up golf from his Uncle John in high school. He took pleasure in playing then and again during retirement in Virginia and Florida. After college he started skiing and playing tennis. Lee was an impressive skier and accomplished tennis player for decades. He also spent several summers sailing on Barnegat Bay in New Jersey. He was always an advocate for fitness and believed in properly warming up and stretching.

Throughout his life, Lee enjoyed a wide variety of music including, but not limited to, reggae, jazz, 50’s oldies, current top 40 music and everything in-between! He dabbled in guitar, an occasional art project, and learning Portuguese.

Lee will be fondly remembered for many things including…as a thoughtful gift-giver, a telescope and star named after Sydney, which was unique in the early 1980’s, a surprise giant teddy bear on Valentines Day for Maddy and her well-loved Mermie; attention to details; quiet observer; sharp dresser; witty, dry humor; clever wisdom, and lessons delivered in memorable sayings such as “look in the mirror” and “it’s the Indian, not the arrow”; his love of Southwest landscapes; flying a kite; up for an adventure such as spontaneous tickets to the early rounds of March Madness in 1991 or a trip to national parks in Utah; and his fondness for Old Key West in Disney World.

Lee’s orange cat, Woodstock, also known as Woody and named after Snoopy’s sidekick, kept him company in his final years. Lee was very fond of Woody, and Woody kept Lee happily on his toes.

Lee is survived by his daughter Sydney (Robert) and granddaughter Madeline. His love for Sydney and Maddy was unmeasurable, and he affectionately called them #1 daughter and #1 granddaughter.

Lee will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of his military service and long career in national security. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the University of Miami, Miami Herbert Business School or The Alzheimer's Association.