December 31, 2024
Lee, Robert F.
Robert Fon Lee (Bob), a longtime resident of West Roxbury, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024 at his home. He was 90. Bob was born January 26,1934 in Guangzhou (Canton), China, one of the two sons of Kwong and Lim (Shee) Lee. He immigrated to the United States in 1951 when he was 17 years old and graduated from Newman Preparatory High School in Boston. He attended Lowell Tech and graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona. He went on to own a successful restaurant in West Peabody and was an Investment Broker with Dean Witter until his retirement in 1992. He was a Mason, a member of the Norwood Rotary Club, the First Baptist Church of Westwood, the Shriners, and the Maynard-Clinton Lodge of Elks and a veteran of the United States Army and National Guard.
After his retirement, Bob enjoyed traveling with his family, attending local festivals and events across New England, hosting holiday parties at his home, cooking delicious meals for visitors, listening to big band music, watching classic films and enriching his mind by reading, watching, and attending lectures and courses in person and online.
He loved to entertain friends and family with his extensive knowledge of world history, finance and stories about his colorful life in Boston and China. He would quote from St. Augustine, Shakespeare, John Stuart Mill, Casablanca and The Three Stooges -sometimes in a single sentence.
He believed in giving to charities and organizations (often anonymously) supporting local businesses and tipping generously. He found joy in being supportive to loved ones, genuine and down-to-earth. He loved to laugh and met everyone with his trademark smile and sometimes with a song.
Bob was the brother of the late Thomas L. Lee who predeceased him in 2010, and is survived by his wife, Ruth Fhenn Ginn (Ang) Lee, and his two sons, Robert W. Lee of West Roxbury, and Joshua E. Lee of Maynard. Visiting hours will be held Sunday, January 5th, 2025 from 3 to 7 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service Monday, January 6th at 11 am at the funeral home followed by burial in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge and a Celebration of Life at Waterford’s Restaurant at 2 Bridge St in Dedham, MA at 1:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Maynard Public Library https://www.maynardpubliclibrary.org/join-friends or Rose’s Bounty (Food Pantry) in West Roxbury https://donorbox.org/roses-bounty-food-pantry in his name would be appreciated.
Comments(9)
I knew Bob in the Masonic Lodge and also in the shrine. He was a great man and will be fully missed.
Lee family: please accept my family’s deepest condolences. Adriana & I will always remember when Robert & his dad came to West Orange, NJ to see us – and what stood out was his kindness, sense of humor & wit all wrapped up with a bow of LOVE.
We love the Lee family & we are here to support you in any way that we can.
Hester family
Dear Ruth, Rob and Josh, please accept my deepest condolences on Bob’s passing. He will certainly be much missed as both father and husband. I have the loveliest memory of the momentous wedding anniversary you celebrated some 5 (?) years ago. Such a beautiful gathering of so many people who loved Bob and Ruth. I wish you all a peaceful and healthy new year and hope to see everyone again some time in the not too distant future.
Patty Helsingius
We are praying for you. We are having a wind storm here in Somers. Right now the power is on, but might not be in the morning.
Lee family,
Offering our condolences and prayers.
Sending love and support. Mr. Lee was an amazing man and will be deeply and dearly missed.
Mr. Lee was our next door neighbor. The first time we met him, it was obvious what a kind and genuine individual he was.
Always greeting us with a smile, a handshake and conversation.
We’re truly sorry that we didn’t have more time to get to know Mr. Lee better.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the Lee family.
Sending our condolences and prayers to the Lee family. Mr. Lee was our neighbor was such a nice and kind man with such a warm smile. We will miss him dearly
I offer sympathy and caring to the whole family. While I was serving as pastor to Bob and Ruth I enjoyed visiting with them. The dumplings were delightful and the company even better. My love to you all!