Mimi Lee
Encyclopedia
Mathilde B. "Mimi" Lee (May 1, 1920 - August 9, 2011) was an American
chemist
, athlete and philanthropist
who served as the First Lady
of Maryland
from 1977 to 1979 when her husband, then Lt. Governor Blair Lee III
, became acting Governor following the departure of Governor
Marvin Mandel
.
She was named for her maternal grandmother, a distant relative of Christopher Columbus
. Her mother, Jeanne de Menthon, a native of France
, was a descendant
of the 11th century French saint
, Bernard of Menthon
. Lee's father, Pierre de Lagarde Boal
, was an American diplomat who served as the United States' ambassador to Nicaragua
and Bolivia
during the 1940s. Boal, who was fluent in English
, French
and Spanish
, lived in ten countries by the time she completed college.
Boal graduated from Elmwood School
, an exclusive all-girls school in Ottawa
, Canada
, where her father was stationed for a diplomatic post. She obtained a bachelor's degree
in chemistry
in 1943, graduating cum laude from Bryn Mawr College
in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
.
Boal took a job as a chemist
with the Rockefeller Foundation
in Colombia
after graduating from Bryn Mawr College. She soon became engaged to Francis Preston Blair Lee III
, a naval officer during World War II
, whom she married in 1944. The two families, the Lees and the Boals, had previously been close friends even before the marriage. The couple had eight children.
in 1971 and became acting Governor
in 1977 when Governor Marvin Mandel
was charged with racketeering and stepped down on an interim basis. As Maryland's First Lady, Lee took on an unusually independent approach from her predecessors. Lee did not move to the Government House
in Annapolis instead choosing to live with her children full-time at their home and farm
in Silver Spring, Maryland
. When speaking to the Baltimore Sun upon taking office in 1978, Governor Lee said of his wife, "Where I go, she goes. At least that's what I keep telling myself anyway. She would rather be canoeing
on the Potomac
, backpacking along the Appalachian Trail
or teaching children to swim than preparing for a formal party." One of Lee's predecessors, former First Lady Barbara Mandel, publicly offered to act as a "sort of senior adviser" to Lee explaining the need of First Ladies to engage in ceremonies, such as ribbon cuttings and garden tours.
Lee privately and publicly disliked much of the ceremonial roles of a traditional First Lady, like the ribbon cuttings, and the practice of politics
, which she called "frivolous." Political columnist
Frank DeFilippo, who served as press secretary
for Governor Mandel, said of Lee, "I normally eschew the overused word 'unique,' but Mimi truly was. I've covered first ladies going back to Avalynne Tawes, and Mimi was the only one of the bunch who truly loathed life in the mansion
, which, when forced to be there, she roamed in Sunny's Surplus
fatigues with cargo pockets." Lee compared the formal role of First Lady, which she called "pomp," to social functions held at U.S. embassies when she was a girl. In a 1977 article, the Washington Post took note of the unusual outlook of the new First Lady, "She disdains luncheon
s and fashion shows except for her favorite causes — the Red Cross, water safety and Holy Cross Hospital
among others. And while some other women from ordinary backgrounds would revel in the new status, Mimi Lee admits that sometimes it's inconvenient." The Washington Post also noted that she "answers her own phone, vacuums her house, cooks for her guests." In 1977, she told the Washington Post she wanted to "throw up" whenever her family was described as an "aristocracy
."
While Lee limited her time in the state capitol, she partook in her state duties when necessary. Even in Annapolis, Lee preferred sneakers, jeans and work skirts to more formal attire. She once expressed irritation at the cancellation of a white water rafting trip on the Shenandoah River
, but later told the Washington Post in the late 1970s that she had a "lovely" time hosting The Princess Anne
. Lee focused much of her official time as First Lady on volunteer functions, such as the March of Dimes
or the Red Cross. An accomplished athlete, Lee taught swimming classes for the handicapped while in office. She held an annual "Beer Bash" for Maryland Democrats at her farm in Silver Spring, often cooking for the guests.
Governor Blair Lee ran for a full term as Governor in 1978, but was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by Harry Hughes
. The Lees left office in January 1979, shortly before the end of his term, when Governor Mendel reclaimed his office for the two remaining days.
throughout her life, pursuing skiing
, canoeing
, and camping
. She became a practitioner of yoga
during her tenure as First Lady and continued her athletic interests during her later life, becoming a competitive Senior athlete in swimming.
An accomplished Senior Olympian
, Lee broke numerous national and Maryland swimming
records while competing in the Senior Olympics
during the 1990s. Lee also competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals, winning eight swimming competitions throughout the United States, and placed second in twenty other races. She hiked the Pyrenees
between France
and Spain
with two of her seventeen-year old grandchildren when she was seventy years old.
Outside of the swimming pool
, Lee learned German
during her 80s.
Mimi Lee died of congestive heart failure
at Laurel Regional Hospital in Laurel, Maryland
, on August 9, 2011, at the age of 91. She was survived by seven of her eight children - Blair Lee IV, Joseph W. Lee, Christopher G. Lee, Erica B. Lee, Philip L. Lee, John F. Lee and Jenny Sataloff; her sister, Mary Elizabeth d'Harcourt; nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her eighth son, Pierre B. Lee, died in 1973. Lee's funeral Mass was held at her parish, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Silver Spring.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, athlete and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who served as the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
from 1977 to 1979 when her husband, then Lt. Governor Blair Lee III
Blair Lee III
Blair Lee III was an American Democratic politician. He served as the Secretary of State of Maryland from 1969 to 1971...
, became acting Governor following the departure of Governor
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
Marvin Mandel
Marvin Mandel
Marvin Mandel , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 56th Governor of Maryland in the United States from January 7, 1969, to January 17, 1979. He was Maryland's first, and, to date, only Jewish governor.- Early life :...
.
Early life
Lee was born Mathilde Boal on May 1, 1920, in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
She was named for her maternal grandmother, a distant relative of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
. Her mother, Jeanne de Menthon, a native of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, was a descendant
Lineal descendant
A lineal descendant, in legal usage, refers to a blood relative in the direct line of descent. The children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc...
of the 11th century French saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, Bernard of Menthon
Bernard of Menthon
Saint Bernard of Menthon , Born in 923, probably in the Château de Menthon near Annecy, in Savoy; died at Novara, 1008. He was descended from a rich, noble family and received a thorough education. He refused an honorable marriage proposed by his father and decided to devote himself to the service...
. Lee's father, Pierre de Lagarde Boal
Pierre de Lagarde Boal
Pierre de Lagarde Boal was an American diplomat and aviator. Boal served as the United States Ambassador to Nicaragua from 1941 to 1942 and the United States Ambassador to Bolivia from May 1942 to February 5, 1944....
, was an American diplomat who served as the United States' ambassador to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
during the 1940s. Boal, who was fluent in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, lived in ten countries by the time she completed college.
Boal graduated from Elmwood School
Elmwood School (Ottawa)
Elmwood School is an independent day school for girls located in Rockcliffe Park in the city of Ottawa, Canada. It was founded in 1915 and is an International Baccalaureate World School...
, an exclusive all-girls school in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where her father was stationed for a diplomatic post. She obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1943, graduating cum laude from Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
.
Boal took a job as a chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
with the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
after graduating from Bryn Mawr College. She soon became engaged to Francis Preston Blair Lee III
Blair Lee III
Blair Lee III was an American Democratic politician. He served as the Secretary of State of Maryland from 1969 to 1971...
, a naval officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, whom she married in 1944. The two families, the Lees and the Boals, had previously been close friends even before the marriage. The couple had eight children.
First Lady of Maryland
Blair Lee III was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of MarylandLieutenant Governor of Maryland
The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland is the second highest ranking official in the executive branch of the state government of Maryland in the United States. He or she is elected on the same ticket as the Governor of Maryland and must meet the same qualifications.The current Lieutenant Governor is...
in 1971 and became acting Governor
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
in 1977 when Governor Marvin Mandel
Marvin Mandel
Marvin Mandel , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 56th Governor of Maryland in the United States from January 7, 1969, to January 17, 1979. He was Maryland's first, and, to date, only Jewish governor.- Early life :...
was charged with racketeering and stepped down on an interim basis. As Maryland's First Lady, Lee took on an unusually independent approach from her predecessors. Lee did not move to the Government House
Government House (Maryland)
Government House is the official residence of the Governor of Maryland and is located at State Circle in Annapolis, Maryland. It has been the home of the governor since 1870. It was designed by Baltimore architect R. Snowden Andrews . Jennings House was the residence of the Governors of Maryland...
in Annapolis instead choosing to live with her children full-time at their home and farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
in Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
. When speaking to the Baltimore Sun upon taking office in 1978, Governor Lee said of his wife, "Where I go, she goes. At least that's what I keep telling myself anyway. She would rather be canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
on the Potomac
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, backpacking along the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
or teaching children to swim than preparing for a formal party." One of Lee's predecessors, former First Lady Barbara Mandel, publicly offered to act as a "sort of senior adviser" to Lee explaining the need of First Ladies to engage in ceremonies, such as ribbon cuttings and garden tours.
Lee privately and publicly disliked much of the ceremonial roles of a traditional First Lady, like the ribbon cuttings, and the practice of politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, which she called "frivolous." Political columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
Frank DeFilippo, who served as press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
for Governor Mandel, said of Lee, "I normally eschew the overused word 'unique,' but Mimi truly was. I've covered first ladies going back to Avalynne Tawes, and Mimi was the only one of the bunch who truly loathed life in the mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
, which, when forced to be there, she roamed in Sunny's Surplus
Sunny's Surplus
Sunny's Surplus was, at its peak, a chain of 15 surplus stores in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Delaware. The chain was founded in 1948 to sell World War II surplus...
fatigues with cargo pockets." Lee compared the formal role of First Lady, which she called "pomp," to social functions held at U.S. embassies when she was a girl. In a 1977 article, the Washington Post took note of the unusual outlook of the new First Lady, "She disdains luncheon
Luncheon
Luncheon, commonly abbreviated to lunch, is a mid-day meal, and is smaller than dinner.In English-speaking countries during the eighteenth century, lunch was originally called "dinner"— a word still used regularly to mean a noontime meal in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and some parts of England,...
s and fashion shows except for her favorite causes — the Red Cross, water safety and Holy Cross Hospital
Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring)
Holy Cross Hospital is a large hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. The hospital, the second largest in Maryland, was founded in 1963 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. There are over 1,200 doctors in the hospital.- History :...
among others. And while some other women from ordinary backgrounds would revel in the new status, Mimi Lee admits that sometimes it's inconvenient." The Washington Post also noted that she "answers her own phone, vacuums her house, cooks for her guests." In 1977, she told the Washington Post she wanted to "throw up" whenever her family was described as an "aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
."
While Lee limited her time in the state capitol, she partook in her state duties when necessary. Even in Annapolis, Lee preferred sneakers, jeans and work skirts to more formal attire. She once expressed irritation at the cancellation of a white water rafting trip on the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
, but later told the Washington Post in the late 1970s that she had a "lovely" time hosting The Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. Lee focused much of her official time as First Lady on volunteer functions, such as the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
or the Red Cross. An accomplished athlete, Lee taught swimming classes for the handicapped while in office. She held an annual "Beer Bash" for Maryland Democrats at her farm in Silver Spring, often cooking for the guests.
Governor Blair Lee ran for a full term as Governor in 1978, but was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by Harry Hughes
Harry Hughes
Harry Roe Hughes , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 57th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1979 to 1987.-Early life and family:...
. The Lees left office in January 1979, shortly before the end of his term, when Governor Mendel reclaimed his office for the two remaining days.
Later life
Her husband, Blair Lee, died in 1985. Lee devoted much of the rest of her life to athletic and philanthropic pursuits. Lee was an avid outdoor enthusiastOutdoor enthusiast
An outdoor enthusiast is a person who enjoys sports and activities in nature and wilderness areas. Interests associated with outdoor enthusiasts include hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, climbing and camping. The term outdoorsman has also been used.U.S. president Teddy...
throughout her life, pursuing skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
. She became a practitioner of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
during her tenure as First Lady and continued her athletic interests during her later life, becoming a competitive Senior athlete in swimming.
An accomplished Senior Olympian
Senior Olympics
The National Senior Games or "Senior Olympics" is a sports competition for seniors from the United States. It is a multi-sport event specifically devoted to adults aged 50+ . It is composed of regional competitions held yearly in all American states...
, Lee broke numerous national and Maryland swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
records while competing in the Senior Olympics
Senior Olympics
The National Senior Games or "Senior Olympics" is a sports competition for seniors from the United States. It is a multi-sport event specifically devoted to adults aged 50+ . It is composed of regional competitions held yearly in all American states...
during the 1990s. Lee also competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals, winning eight swimming competitions throughout the United States, and placed second in twenty other races. She hiked the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with two of her seventeen-year old grandchildren when she was seventy years old.
Outside of the swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, Lee learned German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
during her 80s.
Mimi Lee died of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
at Laurel Regional Hospital in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, on August 9, 2011, at the age of 91. She was survived by seven of her eight children - Blair Lee IV, Joseph W. Lee, Christopher G. Lee, Erica B. Lee, Philip L. Lee, John F. Lee and Jenny Sataloff; her sister, Mary Elizabeth d'Harcourt; nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her eighth son, Pierre B. Lee, died in 1973. Lee's funeral Mass was held at her parish, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Silver Spring.