Gerald Edward Robert Lee

October 14, 1933- July 17, 2021

Santee, California

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2011, Dad’s mantra was that he was going to make it to 90 years old. And our family believed that he would….

Sadly, he fell just short of that goal. On July 17th, 2021, at 87 years of age, Jerry passed away in the early hours of the morning, with Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” playing him out in his hospital room.

Born in Toronto, Canada to parents Reginald and Eileen, Jerry was the third of five siblings: Marion, Dorothy, Gord, and Barry. At 5’5”, Jerry became an unlikely basketball star in high school, and developed a reputation for being mischievous and a joker. He loved telling the story about how he and some buddies took a motorcycle apart, carried the pieces of it up a nearby church staircase, reassembled the bike, and rode it down the stairs and out the door!

Jerry soon realized that finishing high school would be a waste of his time, so he dropped out and enrolled in an auto mechanic/repair course, eventually finding work with various mechanical shops in Canada. It was during this time that he met and fell in love with Patricia (Pat) Johnston. They were married for 67 years, until Jerry’s death.

In 1968, Jerry and Pat moved their family of (then) three children from Canada to California, and settled in Santee, a suburb in San Diego. In a later email, Jerry shared the details of first arriving in the United States:

“April 26, 1968: Our family of 5 boarded a flight to San Diego with stop-off in Chicago. As we traversed O’Hare Airport, we heard, ‘Mr. Lee, report to US Customs Office.’ Oh shit, what now? A large, burly uniformed officer met us and thrust out his hand, grabbing mine. ‘WELCOME!’ he roared, ‘to the USA!’”

“I still shake when I think of making such a move. Really was scary. Though I did stumble a few times into just the right places and ended up in good shape for our old age.”

Jerry and Pat eventually welcomed four (!) more children to their family (a third son, Andy, died shortly after birth.)

Jerry became a respected mechanic and was hired by the San Diego Fire Department. To support his family, he also took jobs teaching auto mechanics at City College in San Diego, and for the Regional Occupational Program (R.O.P.) in El Cajon, CA. He loved teaching and traveled across the country as a master brake specialist, sharing his knowledge. He later joined the Lakeside Fire Department, with the job title Master Mechanic, and finally retired in June of 2004.

But Jerry was never one to stay still for long! He joined the International Association of Fire Mechanics, and was elected Treasurer, later becoming the president for a time. He retired in 2020 from his last role with the group as historian. He also volunteered as a docent with the San Diego Automotive Museum for a few years. In 2017 and 2018, he traveled to Mission Viejo, CA multiple times to consult on restoration efforts for a 1919 fire engine.

Despite all of his responsibilities, Jerry was selfless with his free time. In 1979, a busload of senior citizens from the Salvation Army Nutrition Center in El Cajon were headed to the Wild Animal Park for the day, when the bus broke down unexpectedly. The bus driver tried for an hour to repair the short with no success. Luckily, they broke down in front of El Cajon Valley High School, and a volunteer coordinator found Jerry teaching an auto repair class at the school and asked for his help. Within 15 minutes, he had the bus running with new wire and refused anything for his assistance except a “thanks.”

He never refused a request from anyone asking, “Hey, can you take a look at my car?” He loved to pass along books that he enjoyed with others, and in later years, worked diligently on his train set, which he shared with his grandsons and granddaughter. He nurtured and developed a thriving succulent garden in the front yard that continues to draw attention from neighbors and strangers alike.

We have lost a dearly loved husband, father, brother, and friend. He is truly irreplaceable….

Jerry is survived by his wife Pat, and their children: Cindy and husband Richard Jackson; Patti; Jodie; Jerry Jr. and wife Dawn; Sandy and partner Bob; Tom; Amy and husband Tony; seven grandchildren; and brother Gord, his wife Shirley, and their family.

He is preceded in death by his parents Reginald and Eileen, his siblings Marion, Dorothy and Barry, and his son Andy.

There will be no public memorial service, per Jerry’s wishes. Our family is asking that any remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the International Myeloma Association at https://www.myeloma.org/