Marianne C. Lee

Marianne Collet Lee passed away at the age of 94 on March 30, 2025, at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC. She was a long-time resident of the Knollwood Retirement Community in Northwest Washington. Marianne is the widow of Major General Richard M. Lee, U.S. Army, who predeceased her.

She was born on December 15, 1930, in Germany and moved to Washington in 1957. Marianne served as a diplomat at the embassy of Germany until 1990 when she retired. She first served in the press office and later in the cultural affairs section of the embassy. She resided at her homes in Bethesda, Maryland and Palm Beach, Florida before moving to Knollwood.

Marianne enjoyed fine art, international travel, and regular visits to Germany and the rest of Europe. She was an avid gardener, reader, and member of the Cosmos Club in Washington.

Marianne is survived by her half-sister, Bridgitt Buss of Kirn, Germany, her stepdaughters, Susan Lee and Kathy Serk of New Mexico, her nephews William Winne, Thomas Nicholson, and David Nicholson of Maryland, and Thomas Lee, William Lee, John Lee, and Richard Lee of California. Four brothers, a sister, and her first husband, Manfred Baumeister, predeceased her.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 3:00PM at the Knollwood Chapel, 6200 Oregon Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will occur at a later date. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Georgetown Jesuit Community, P.O. Box 571200, Washington, DC 20057.