Lee David Alinsky

Lee grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and Carmel, California. He lost his mother, Helene, tragically at age 2.5. His early years were filled with adventures with his beloved dogs and friends. He credited much of his broad-based education to his stepmother, Jean Graham.

Throughout his youth, Lee was immersed in his father’s world of community organizing. His father’s work introduced young Lee to elected officials, executives, and community leaders in Chicago and beyond and impressed upon him a powerful belief in the importance of ensuring equality for all in American society.

After graduating from University of Chicago Lab School in 1962, he moved to San Francisco. There, he spent his time living on a boat in Sausalito, living off the grid on a ranch, and working as a photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle.

From 1965-1971 he served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam as an airborne intercept controller.

Lee moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1972 and earned his B.S. in media engineering and an M.B.A. He began his career as a television engineer at Boston’s PBS station (WGBH) for their daytime educational programming (MET), where he met Joanne. He then moved into corporate television and then computer systems engineering to design and operate LANs, including for the medical EPIC systems that serve many of Boston’s hospitals. He spent many years maintaining public school network systems and teaching about computer hardware to high school students.

His lifelong passions were boating (including with the Coast Guard Auxiliary), tennis, and reading.

Lee most valued his 47-year marriage to Joanne Linowes and raising their family. He is survived by Joanne; his children Shelby Lees (Jonathan), Robert (Rachel), Jason (Lisa Geller); and his grandchildren Julian, Theo, and Anna.

The Alinsky Family is partnering with the Midwest Academy to establish the Alinsky Family Scholarship Fund. The Fund is being established in honor of Lee Alinsky, the son of Saul Alinsky, renowned community organizer. Donations to the fund will be used to strengthen the growth and sustainability of community organizing - helping organizers deepen their craft, build leadership, and stay in the work for the long term! Please follow the link at the bottom of this page:

If you prefer, you can mail a check to:

Midwest Academy

P.O. Box 16369

Chicago, IL 60616

(Please make your check payable to: Midwest Academy & add 'Alinsky Family Scholarship Fund' to the MEMO line of the check)