Lee Penington Rice

of Richmond, VA, passed away on July 21, 2023 surrounded by his loving family, due to complications from dementia and Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Connie Gordon Rice; his son Tom Rice (Ceci), Richmond, VA; his daughter Leslie Kasmir (Mike), Arlington, VA; five grandchildren, Matthew, Emma, Andrew, Julia and Brooke; and one sibling, Peggy Smith (Jon), Venice, FL. He was predeceased by his parents Julia Norris and Leon Rice.

Born in Richmond, VA on October 3, 1941, Lee spent most of his childhood years in Kilmarnock, VA and his beloved Northern Neck region of the state where he grew to love being on the water. He graduated from James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, where he was on the track and baseball teams. He then moved on to Virginia Commonwealth University where he not only graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History in 1967, but also met the love of his life, Connie in a “History of the South” class. Lee later went on to achieve a Master’s degree in Humanities from the University of Richmond in 1978.

After VCU, Lee started a career in the banking industry in Richmond, and then later went on to a long career as a commercial insurance agent with A.W. Hargrove Insurance Agency in Hanover County. In semi-retirement he served as an insurance auditor.

Lee and Connie were married on August 5, 1967, and went on to build their loving family in the Richmond area. From his love of the water, their family spent many vacations together over the years in VA Beach, Sandbridge, and Corolla, NC. He also loved taking his family on weekend trips to Kinsale, VA on the beautiful Yeocomico River where his mother lived until 1998.

Lee was an avid reader of political science and fiction novels throughout his life. From being so widely read and his degree in the Humanities, Lee believed in a world of diversity, kindness, and compassion for underserved communities.

He was also a journalist at heart. For many years, Lee contributed to the “Letter to the Editor” section on the Editorial Page for the Richmond Times-Dispatch on a wide range of thought-provoking topics. For his contributions, he was awarded one of the paper’s “Correspondents of the Year” on multiple occasions. Lee was also a published author who wrote two books - the first was a memoir for his mother, “The Life of ‘P’” (2007). He later went on to write “Journeys of Entrepreneurs” (2012), which was reviewed favorably in the Times-Dispatch.

Lee was a genuine sportsman and loved to exercise - his love for running brought him to run the first Richmond Marathon in 1978. Golf became a passion in his middle age years and he regularly enjoyed many rounds with friends, clients and his son. He was a longtime member at the Tuckahoe YMCA and loved to go on runs around his neighborhood and at local school tracks.

Lee was a loyal member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church since 1968. Through St. Paul’s, he also served as a mentor to students at Woodville Elementary School. He spent his later years as an active member of the Richmond Navy League and Needle’s Eye Ministries, as well as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

He will be deeply missed by all of his family and friends for his kindness, generosity, energetic spirit, and acceptance of people from all walks of life, regardless of background or religious affiliation.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, July 29 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, his family asks for donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation and Alzheimer's Association.