"I am distressed to hear of Lee's passing.  Looking back on the summers of hard work and happiness at VSMRC, I remember Lee with fondness and a smile."  
Jean Wilkinson
Liberty Hill, TX

Totally stunned to hear this news.  Lee Mundine was quick with a joke and he loved to laugh.  I was very fortunate to have him as a teacher and to work with him in a few stage productions.  Lee, you will be missed.

doug, doris, darla and family--my heart goes out to each of you on losing lee.  such a wonderful talent, spirit, personality--i have so many good memories of him, as i know you do also. momma & daddy are with him again, and i hope all the good times you had together help get you through this difficult time.  my thoughts and prayers are with lee & each of you.  sending you hugs------ja

Inspiring teacher, fun and kind employer, my friend. Rest in peace Lee.
My prayers are with the family through this time.
Kristen Melanson

I have such wonderful memories of Lee all the way back to Fiddler on the Roof at VSMRC in 1980 or so. So sorry to hear this news. Good thoughts and prayers to his family.

Doug, Darla and Families,
We are so sorry to hear of Lee's passing.  As you know, he was a wonderful person and a great friend to all of us.  His old classmates from St. Joe's are having a Mass said in his honor at St. Mary Magdalene in Flint, Tx on 10-28-11.  We miss him, and are praying that you will all be comforted by how many people care so much for Lee and for you all.  May God Bless you.

My thoughts and prayers out to Lee and his family. I remember when I first saw "El Gallo" perform years ago and was lucky enough to have also worked with Lee in summer musicals with VCT. What a talent he had and a well loved person by many people. He will be missed. It's been years but I will always remember his teachings and his mentorship meant a great deal to me. Thanks Lee for the memories. God bless you and your family and may they find comfort from those who loved you.

Lee was an excellent play director and actor.  While at VHS, he inspired many students.  They were lucky to have him as their theater teacher.  I worked side by side with Lee and he taught me a lot as well.  His talent was shared and we loved him for it.  I was greatly saddened when I read in the paper of his passing.  My prayers are with his family. Barbara Skipper

Doug, Darla, and families.  So sorry to hear of Lee's passing.  He was a very talented and caring man.  Bobby and I remember his community theater.  He will be missed dearly. We love you all.


Reading so many wonderful memories of Lee during his theatre years take me back as if it were yesterday.  I can't believe how long it's been since I first met him when I was only 8 doing "Fiddler"...I can hear him now singing "Miracles of Miracles", I can see him now sitting in his tailor shop, I can remember how cool I thought  I was playing pool with him at the cast party .....this show was the start of something that would be part of my life forever and aside from the talented cast, Lee was someone that would continue to mentor and inspire me until  graduated high school.  

While I was in middle school,  "Annie" was a summer to remember...I was honored to have him as a director, and after him threatening to take away a vocal solo part I had in "You're Never Fully Dressed" because he couldn't hear me, I STILL think of him today whenever I have to belt out a song! :)

While in high school, Lee became "Mr Mundine"...something that was extremely hard to call him after countless memories of him and shiner beer, washers, hot tubs etc at my parents' countless cast parties...but the easy part was continuing to respect and learn from him...here I began to learn creative freedom from him, because he allowed it, he ENCOURAGED it...and I am forever grateful.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his beautiful, loving family...Darla, Doug and Doris, Kira and Tamera.....as you know Lee was one of a kind and he will be missed dearly.

To Lee--If I could let you know one thing, it's how greatly you impacted me and have influenced me in my career today...I hope you know how many other people share this same sentiment.  One more thing,  I feel better today knowing my mom just gained another great,amazing friend in heaven. :)

Darla & Mundine Family,
  Darla it's really hard to understand why life can be cut short, only God knows. I'm truely sorry for your loss & one day all your family will be together again. Lee was a great guy that didn't deserve the pain & discomfort he was goin through so God took that away from him & called him home. God Bless You & Your Family.

My deepest sympathies go out to all the Mundine family. I am fondly remembering all of you at this time of celebrating Lee's life. 

Prayers and Blessings,

Lori Hubenak Lundy

Darla and family, You and your family are in the prayers of me and mine in this time of trial.  I did not know Lee but from Darla he was quite a person and loved.

Lee was "that teacher"... you know, the one who changed lives. He encouraged me, believed in me and gave me guidance. He was probably one of the most influential people in my life. I enjoyed working for him after High School and truly becoming his friend. The political discussions and late night "Name that Tune" games were some of the best times I had in Victoria.  We'll miss you Lee, but we will never forget you.

Doug Darla and family~ I was so sorry to hear about Lee~ What a wonderful warm kind man.  I know that many in  our community are feeling the loss as well. Keeping you all in our prayers during this very difficult time.

Doris & Doug,
So sorry for your loss. Many people at the theatre remembered Lee very fondly this week. 
Lori Williamson

I was one of those obscure actors in Of Thee I Sing and Annie who had the pleasure of seeing Lee perform both on stage and in rehearsals. All I could do is sit back and do my best to emulate his perfect timing and natural dialog. I learned more from watching Lee and Mike together than anyone could have learned in a classroom. Anyone who knew Lee thought he was one of their closest friends.  I will truly miss him. Everyone will truly miss him. But I look forward to seeing him again someday.

Remembering all the good times we all use to have. Such a wonderful person. May the Grace of God bring the family peace and comfort.

The Jimenez & Aguirre Family wishes to offer it's deepest sympathies to the entire Mundine Family.

Dearest Doug and Darla,
I am shocked and in disbelief that a wonderful, talented man like Lee has been taken from us all too. I, like everyone else, loved Lee and the whole Mundine family! As you met each member, you were immediately adopted and brought into the family... a family I was so grateful to BE a part of...such love there. I will never forget VSMRC's Sweeney Todd, who could? Or his Sancho in the VC production of Man of La Mancha! And he was great in Of Thee I sing, but guess the cutest I thought he was as the tailor in Fiddler on the Roof. Lee loved playing on my heavy olf treadle machine in the play and was the cutest tailor ever to sew. God has blessed us all with the life of Lee Mundine! Those were the best years of our life!

The summer that Lee directed the VSMRC production of "Annie" was the most memorable one of my life. His enthusiasm for theater and magical way of working with SO MANY KIDS and always doing it with a smile and encouragement is something that not many others could do. He made you feel like the world was yours. Although I have not seen Lee since I graduated high school in 1991, I think of him often whenever I think of that summer.  I know that so many people will miss him, and I am especially thinking of his family at this difficult time.

Lee was a consummate actor that was thoroughly trained.  More than once Lee came to my rescue to take over roles at the last minute.  I was always grateful to have someone of his talent and ability.   He was  letter perfect with his lines but more importantly he prepared himself in the way that is only abundantly available to classically trained actors.  

To him the Theatre was a serious undertaking that was linked to a tradition of story telling that offered ceremony to mankind since the beginning of time.   The Theatre that he loved was an integral function of living.

I went to see Lee in the hospital about two years ago.   We had a good visit, but I knew that his time on earth might be coming to an end.  

I often think of the actors that I would like to direct one last time perhaps in Heaven.  Lee is always included in that all star cast.
I will miss his fire and  intelligence on the stage.

The Boyd Family wishes to offer it's deepest sympathies to the entire Mundine Family, especially Doug, Darla and Doris, on the passing of Lee.He was very much a part of our family starting way back in 1977.
  Where to begin. As I began to build a Fine Arts Department at St Joseph High School, in the second year of it's existence, there appeared this talented actor named Lee Mundine. That was the begining of our close family relationship with Lee and his extended family. Lee was always willing to do all the crazy things I asked of him and others on stage.....a natural. Wheter he was in "The Crucible", "Forum" ,"Fiddler" or his "show stealing role" as Throttlebottom in "Of Thee I Sing" or Judge Turpin in "Sweeney Todd"(and may it be noted that Lee was a major factor in the VSMRC doing such a difficult piece of musical theatre, I will always treasure his support on that one), Lee always put in a "BROADWAY" performance.....he had "it" in spades. He directed me in my last performance on stage in a musical on the 10th anniversary of VSMRC in "My Fair Lady", and with that the circle was complete, student directing teacher....it was a great feeling and I was filled with pride....some say thgat was our best show, I don't think I can argue with that.
   But our relationship with Lee went beyond the stage, he WAS a part of our family for many many years. Lee loved to play board games and in the late 1970's on, we had many late night gatherings at our house(or should I say early morning)playing games and trust me, these "trials" were not for the faint of heart. It was on one of these nights in 1982, we were playing the board game based on the TV show "Dallas"(poor Lee's cousin Steve, for lack of enough male roles, had to play Lucy, and we gave him the appropriate amount of grief on that that night). My wife Wanda was pregnant, but we really didn't think the baby would "appear" that night. Well, we were wrong. My son Josh was born later that day and Lee would become his Godfather.
   When Doug and I have spoken the last couple of years , we always remember the hot summer of 1980 when Lee and I worked for Doug painting houses. When Doug hired us, little did he realize it would be "his" introduction into musical theatre.As we rode around in the cab Lee and I would sing songs from musicals....it didn't get us any more work that summer, but it a time of very fond memories that Doug and I will never forget.
   Finally, Lee was a force of nature. extremely committed to whatever project he was tackling.He was a very talented person...an actor, a teacher, a business man, but most important to Wanda and I.......a dear, dear family member who will be missed everyday. We are very fortunate that Lee came into our lives, he helped me on so many projects and when the two of us got together.....we could not stop with the humorous hilarity and repartie....who can foirget that weekend at the Beach house..."Don't let go of my leg!!!" There are just too many memories to list and ,I guess, that is the wonderful thing about a person's life. And really, in a sense, that is how they live on, in our fondest memories and recollections.
Lee, Wanda and I love you and are going to miss you very much. I always was very proud of you and I know right now you are organizing a Sondheim Show in Heaven or, at best, playing your favorite musical trivial game with St Peter, Beethoven and Elvis. God Bless You, we will miss you, but never forget you.

I loved Lee with all my heart and spent birthdays together and shared intimate thoughts about life and our passions. I will miss his laugh and hugs most of all. My love to his family and Hillary most of all. He was always there for me when I needed him the most. I will miss him so.

You were taken from us far too early, Lee. I will never forget the years that we grew and learned side by side. I'll miss that infectious laugh the most. To Darla, Doug and the rest of the family, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. He might be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

i am sorry for your loss.  Lee made the summer musical fun and helped a shy girl make friends.  He will be missed.
Nanette Long Lee

Lee was more than just a friend to us.  He was family!  He was "Uncle Lee" to my four sons.  I have so many wonderful, fun, and funny memories with him.  He was precious to us.  We will miss him so much, and his passing has left a hole in my heart.  My prayers are with the Mundine and Harpin families.  I know your holes are even bigger than mine.

Lee, you were the love of my life. I can't imagine how different (boring) my life would have been without you in it. Thank you for teaching me how to love and introducing me to theater, Sondheim, Shiner beer, washers, and refusing to two-step to rock songs! My memories of you will live in my heart forever. Rest now, and I'll see you later. I will always love you.

Lee was such a nice person and will be missed by many.

I am so sorry to hear of Lee's passing.  I pray for God's comfort and strength to all of you during this time.  Jo Leah

I am shocked and very saddened to hear of Lee's passing.  My high school years were made easier by this outgoing, fun, and talented man.  I was blessed to have been able to call him a friend even after high school.  My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends.  Rest in Peace "Moonshine".

OBITUARY

Joseph Lee Lee Mundine

12 July, 1960 – 14 September, 2011

Colonial Funeral Home

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