Charles Gordon Lee Obituary
Charles Gordon Lee, Jr., 71, of Los Angeles died unexpectedly on August 6, 2024, near Simi Valley, California. Charlie was born on June 20, 1953, in Denver, Colorado, to Charles and Polly Lee. He grew up and started his professional life in Denver and Boulder, Colorado, and then worked as a geologist in Chicago, Illinois, Charlotte, North Carolina, and for the last 25 years in Los Angeles. He graduated with High Honors in Geology-Mineralogy from the University of Michigan and earned a Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Colorado. He worked his entire career as an economic geologist, environmental consultant, and, lately, as an oil and gas geologist/regulator.
Charlie described his younger years growing up in Denver as an idyllic time. He had many nearby friends and spent huge chunks of time outdoors. His father, a noted architect, took the family and friends on numerous trips to the Colorado mountains. When Charlie spoke of that time, his father was the center of his memories. But when Charlie was in eighth grade, he and his family were shocked by the totally unexpected suicide of his father. As Charlie would say, "Everything changed after that." But out of that tragedy grew the man we all knew Charlie to be. Charlie came through that devastating time and became a loving, warm and generous person with a huge smile he freely shared. He was such a positive person and often shared his good fortune with others he encountered in his life who needed a helping hand. Like his father, he loved nature and the outdoors. He shared his mother's interest in gardening and landscaping and developed into an avid tennis player. And the absolute apple of his eye and most important person in Charlie's life was his daughter Carina, now a senior at Tulane University. Charlie was immensely proud and marveled at all his daughter's achievements, especially when watching her dance performances. For Charlie, life was a wonderful adventure, and he always believed in a better tomorrow for himself and others. He was an unshakable optimist. After his father's death, Charlie would tell a story of his eighth-grade Spanish teacher, Mr. Benavidez, who taught him to sing a number of Mexican songs, "...including Cielito Lindo, with its chorus that goes, 'Ai, Ai, Ai, Ai, Canta no Llores,' which means 'sing don't cry.' My favorite." That is how we will remember Charlie, singing and believing joy triumphs and prevails over life's struggles.
He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Carina Kroff, his life-long partners Linda Kroff and Curtis Welty, his sister, Leslie Cavness, of Denver, Colorado, and by the many good friends and geological colleagues in the places he worked and lived. A private Celebration of Life will be held in Los Angeles in the next few months. Gifts in honor of his memory can be made to the charity of your choice.
