Mary Berk Lee

Mary was born Mary Ruth Berkowitz in Cleveland, Ohio to her parents, Ben and Henrietta (née Golden). After a divorce, Mary and her mother moved into the home of her beloved Aunt Lil and Uncle Nate in Shaker Heights, OH. She graduated from Shaker Heights High School and attended Purdue University where she studied Speech Pathology. Upon graduation she moved back to Cleveland and worked in the training department at the May Company. She met Bob Lee of Chicago, IL through mutual friends. Bob was a graduate student at Case-Western Reserve. They were married in November of 1964.

After Bob graduated Case, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army, and it was the army life for the Lees. They moved first to San Antonio, TX (where Mary worked as an elementary school teacher in the San Antonio schools), then to Boston, MA, and onto Pittsburgh, PA. When Bob was discharged, they moved to New Rochelle, NY. By this time, they had two children and not long after, a third. David Lee (Carola) arrived in Boston 1966, Andrea Lee (Jerry) arrived in Pittsburgh 1967, and Mark joined in New York 1970.

Mary joined the efforts of her friend Joan Sher helping found the Larchmont Temple Nursery School and for many years stayed active in Temple life. She was also involved in Larchmont/Mamaroneck’s Interfaith Council, promoting understanding and goodwill between neighbors and focusing on important areas of common ground. She opened a picture framing store, Fast Frame, in Harrison, NY on Halstead Avenue in the 1980’s.

After her kids had all grown, Mary and Bob moved to Greensboro, NC for several years. Bob worked as President of an executive training center there. Mary was involved on the board of a local art museum. The pace of life in NC did not well suit the Lees. They moved back to NY in 1996, living in the garment district. Bob taught at The New School and later started a training program for executive coaches at Baruch University. Mary was involved in the board of their co-op, loved to attend theater and opera, and visits to the art and craft museums. Bob passed away in 2014.

Mary loved spending time with their grandchildren, Beckey, Orin, and Benjamin. She was a big reader, with a lot of love for mysteries. She studied at the JCC and made a whole new set of friends there that were important to her. They took classes together, played bridge and mahjong, and did some fun travel together. Mary rooted for the New York Mets and loved watching ball games; she was a Keith Hernandez fan. She disliked the DH but liked the pitch clock. She’ll be remembered by all her lifelong friends for her Moxy, adventurous spirit, sense of humor, and straight talk.

On several occasions Mary told us that the little girl Mary Ruth from Cleveland would not believe the lucky and wonderful life that Mary Lee had.