Kevin Scott Lee

Kevin was born to Jack and Barbara Lee on April 13, 1951 in Pasadena, CA. He was raised in Arcadia, graduating from Arcadia High School in 1969. During high school he worked with his brother Steve, and his sister Nancy in the family business, Lee and Daniel Steel Fabricators. He then attended the University of Southern California for his BA in Psychology in 1975, and continued on to the University of California, Irvine to complete his PhD in Psychobiology in 1979. While completing his postdoctoral work at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany, he only planned to stay for one year, but ended up staying five more years after meeting the love of his life, Gabriela. Kevin moved with Gabriela to Philadelphia, PA in 1986 where he was an assistant professor in the Department of Anatomy at Thomas Jefferson University Medical School, and where he built many lifelong friendships. In 1991 he planted roots in Charlottesville, VA where he became a professor at the University of Virginia and started his family. He lived in Charlottesville for the remainder of his life, married to his wife Gabriela for 39 years, and dedicated to his daughters Grace and Eleanor.

Kevin was a professor at the University of Virginia, Departments of Neuroscience and Neurological Surgery for 34 years, having joined the School of Medicine as a professor of Neurological Surgery. He later moved to the Department of Neuroscience and became a Harrison Foundation Professor of Neuroscience, and then Chair of the Department of Neuroscience. He was incredibly passionate about his research into various neurological diseases, specifically stroke and movement disorders. He cherished his fellow colleagues and researchers, many of whom became lifelong family friends. Kevin always stressed the importance of one’s impact on the world, which was evident in both his life’s work and involvement with various charitable organizations in the community. He was particularly dedicated to finding ways for reducing food insecurity in the Albemarle and Nelson counties. Later in life he picked up farming and would bring various fruits and vegetables to the local food pantries to ensure access to fresh produce. Kevin was incredibly heartfelt, and loving to all those around him and he will be incredibly missed.

Kevin is preceded in death by his parents Jack and Barbara Lee, and brother Steven Lee. He is survived by his wife Gabriela Lee, daughters Grace Lee and Eleanor Wright (Nick), sister Nancy Thomas (Tim), sister-in-law Gudrun Jungwirt, nephew Oliver Jungwirt, niece Lara Simon, grand nephews/nieces Audrey and Aaron Simon, godson Royce Lean, and cousins throughout the United States.

In lieu of flowers we encourage that contributions be made to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, and details will be announced to family and friends.