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Robert A. Lee ’38

Robert A. Lee ’38, November 10, 2011, in Lakewood, Washington. Bob’s family moved from Spokane, Washington, to Portland when he was two. His interest in journalism led to a position as editor of the school paper and to a job as a stringer for the Oregonian while he attended Benson High School. He studied at Reed for two years, working nights at the Oregonian, before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he earned a BA in English. At the university he met another budding journalist, Catherine (Katy) Taylor, whom he married in 1941. Bob was a reporter and editor for the Oregonian for the next two decades. He also served as a radio technician in the navy during World War II and founded the Portland Reporter, an independent daily that ran for four years. In 1960, he accepted a position with the New York Times. He was managing editor of the West Coast edition and retired after 20 years as head of the make-up desk and associate news editor. Bob and Katy moved to Portland in 1981. Retirement provided opportunities for travel to Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, and for visits with their daughter and two sons and their families, who survive him. Katy died in 2005. “Throughout his life, Bob was known for his kindness and compassion, his liberal politics, keen intelligence, and wit.”

Appeared in Reed magazine: March 2012