The Honorable Donald John Lee

The Honorable Donald John Lee of Upper St. Clair, formerly of Bethel Park, age 83, died on a day he loved to celebrate, St. Patrick's Day.

Donald J. Lee was born on July 24, 1927 to Michael Sylvester and Helen Mulvaney Lee in Shadyside.

Judge Lee graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1945 and enlisted in the United State Navy from 1945 to 1947.

He was discharged upon the death of his father and returned to Pittsburgh and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh under the G.I. bill. He graduated from Pitt in 1950 and then attended night school at Duquesne University of Law where he graduated first in his class in 1954.

Judge Lee began his law career as a clerk to the Honorable Rabe Marsh of the United States District Court for the Western district of Pennsylvania and as a fledgling lawyer with George Meyer and Associates.

Judge Lee formed the Law firm of Dougherty, Larrimer, and Lee with John Dougherty and James Larrimer in 1958. He remained a partner until 1984 at which time Gov. Richard Thornburgh appointed him to a vacancy on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.

Prior to being named to the court, Judge Lee served as a council member and solicitor for Green Tree Borough. He was also a special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1974. He returned to private practice in 1986.

Later in 1988, he was re-appointed to the Allegheny County bench by Gov. Robert Casey. Following the appointment, he was elected to a ten-year term in November 1989.

Three days later, President George H.W. Bush called to nominate him for a vacancy on the Federal bench of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 9, 1990 and received his commission on March 12,1990. Judge Lee served on the Federal Court until his retirement in January 2004.

He was preceded by death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Ann Craig Lee.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved sisters, Dorothy Berger (Edward), Helen Schneider (Charles) and Jane Eicheldinger (Frank). His brother-in-law William Craig also preceded him in death.

He is survived by his children, Donald J. Lee Jr. (Kathie), Craig M. Lee (Geralyn), Kevin W. Lee (Vickie), Timothy C. Lee, David P. Lee (Amy), Mary Beth Pfarner (Carl), and Christopher T. Lee (Kristy); his grandchildren Brendan Lee, Caitlin Lee, Anna Grace Lee, Conor Lee (Katie), Sean Lee, Alexandra Lee, Brenna Lee, Keatyn Lee, Carole Ann Lee, Patrick Lee, Meghan Lee, Molly Pfarner, D. J. Pfarner, Morgan Lee, Erin Lee; his great- granddaughter Addison Lee; his sisters-in-law Alice Coyne (Thomas) and Sheila Niedbala (Richard); numerous cousins, nieces and nephews also survive him.

Judge Lee was known to everyone he met as a compassionate and caring person. He treated everyone with dignity and respect regardless of their walk of life. He was proud of his Irish heritage, proud that he was a Central Catholic graduate and extremely proud of his family. He enjoyed jogging, fishing in the Connoquenessing Creek, cross-country skiing, hiking, sailing, reading, and most of all, spending time with his wife and family.

Friends will be received at Beinhauer at Peters Township at 2828 Washington Rd., McMurray, 15317, Sat. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. and Sun. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday 10:30 a.m. at St. Louise de Marillac Church. Entombment in Queen of Heaven Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer, c/o YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, 126 Nagel Road, Fombell, PA 16123.

Visit Beinhauer's website here for additional information.