Lee Harris Bergman

Lee was born June 28, 1943 in NYC, NY to Maury Bergman and Natalie Bindler. He lived in Queens, NY and then Mt. Vernon, NY. He attended Pennington Elementary, Traphagen Middle School and AB Davis High School. His family moved to South Salem, NY in 1959 and he finished high school at John Jay High School. He attended college at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor graduating in 1965 with a degree in Chemical Engineering.

Lee married Judy Goodwin in 1965 and they had 3 children: Carolyn, Laurie, and Stephen. They lived in Sylvania, OH, Grosse Isle, MI, Baton Rouge, LA, Huntington Beach, CA and Houston, TX. Lee was a research chemist, plant manager and eventually became President of Sea Lion Technology. His specialty was taking research processes to production manufacturing. He mentored many young chemists and helped them succeed in the industry.

Lee divorced Judy and married Susanne Devich in 1996. He divorced Susanne and met and eventually married Peggy Tennyson in 2022. They moved to Cortez, CO after Lee retired. Because of Lee’s experience, it was hard to stay retired and he continued his career as a consultant.

In Cortez, Lee became serious about photography and focused on the beautiful Southwest scenery. He found the mountains to be very spiritual. He was an avid canoer and kayaker and spent much time on rivers and reservoirs. Lee moved to Athens, GA in 2021.

Lee mentored two young boys in Cortez. He developed a wide range of friends. He was an active member of the Universal Unitarian church.

Lee had a passion for fast cars and fast boats. His engineer’s mind had him modify stock vehicles into street rockets. He enjoyed reading and could speed through a book three times normal. Films were another interest, usually quirky, non-Hollywood, personal stories. He was a lifelong Liberal Democrat. He had a great interest in contemporary architecture and helped to design and build 5 houses.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy (Tennyson), brother, Robert Bergman, sister-in-law, Nana Schowalter, his three children: Carolyn (Michael Vigorita), Laurie (Richard Judd) and Stephen (Heather Sandford) Bergman, his stepchildren: Michelle Sankary (Scott) and Colleen Whalen. Lee was the grandfather of three grandchildren: Michael Josef Vigorita, Elisabeth Vigorita, Mark Bergman and one great-grandson, Oliver Grant Bergman.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local food bank or Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.