David W. Lee

December 10, 1942 - December 12, 2022

Born in Wenatchee, Washington, David Lee grew up in Ephrata, where his parents John and Mary Lee owned and operated the movie theaters in the area. David graduated from Ephrata High School in 1961, where he was an excellent student and participated in sports, lettering in football, basketball and track. He always appreciated the excellent head start he received at EHS in his life-long pursuit of education and learning. He also formed friendships in Ephrata that he nurtured and maintained throughout his life, no matter where he was in the world.

Lured by the school's excellent biology department, David enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University after high school. Midway through college, he dropped out for a year, and carrying everything he needed on his back, David took the proverbial slow boat to the South Pacific, exploring New Zealand, Fiji, the Society Islands and Hawaii. From these exotic travels, he was inspired to become a botanist. After graduating from PLU, he completed his master’s and PhD programs at Rutgers University. He then accepted a post-doctoral fellowship and went to Ohio State University where he met the love of his life, Carol Rotsinger. The forests outside of Columbus witnessed a marriage that lasted over 50 years.

A few months after they were married, David and Carol traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Carol taught printmaking at a local institute, and David taught botany at the University of Malaysia. It was an exotic time for a young couple and, drawn to the mysteries of the tropical forests, it was this experience that guided his research for the rest of his scientific life.

Over time and many a detour, David and Carol eventually returned to the United States. Their travels led them from France, where their son Sylvan was born, to French Guyana and finally to Warwick, New York. It was during this time that David met Swami Muktanada, and from there the renowned Guru Mayi, and he and Carol became lifetime students of Siddha Yoga.

After the birth of their daughter Katy, David felt he needed a "real job," and so accepted a botany position at Florida International University in Miami. During his tenure at FIU, he was instrumental in establishing the university as a top research institution, and also in developing a close research relationship with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. In 1994, he became first chair of the Department of Environmental Studies, and in 2006 the chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. The University honored David in 2007 with the Outstanding Faculty Award, presented to a member of the faculty who has made a lasting impression on the lives of FIU alumni, for his service to the university, and for his internationally recognized research. A few years back he was also acknowledged with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Botanical Society. As a leading tropical botanist, he published widely on the subject of plant color in prestigious scientific journals, as well as authoring several books including Nature's Palette and Nature's Fabric.

Throughout his lifetime, David visited and participated in research in many tropical forests of the world. One of the highlights of his adventures occurred several decades ago, when The National Geographical Society sent David, along with a student intern and an interpreter, to the tropical forests of China. He was allowed total freedom for his research, took over 7,000 photos and enjoyed a wonderful fellowship with the rural villagers.

Following his retirement in 2009, David and Carol moved to Crestone, Colorado, and soon cultivated a community of many good and supportive friends. They became part of a lively book club, joined the local ashram, and became loving and supportive volunteers of the Crestone End of Life Project. Drawn to the local natural history, particularly wildflowers, David spent much of his time walking in the valleys and mountains and collecting wildflowers. Self-taught in the art of making paper, he incorporated pressed wildflowers into scenes depicting the mountains and valleys he loved. In a very fluid way, the great scientist became a stunning artist. He joined the local Artisans Gallery and last year became a member of the Artists Guild. The week before he died, a friend was visiting him in his studio, and David told him that he'd had such a good life. He had no regrets. He seemed happy. He was content. David worked in his studio until the day before he died.

David Lee: always a student, a passionate teacher, caring family man, ever curious, a renowned scientist and researcher, multi-talented, an adventurer, an artist, and a compassionate and faithful friend.

David is survived by his loving wife Carol; his children Sylvan and Katy, both of Fort Collins, Colorado; his beloved grandson Shaun (Denver); an older brother Jack Lee (Alice) of Ephrata and younger sister MaryAnn Lee Truscott (Wes) of Wenatchee; brother-in- law Jay Rotsinger; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and countless friends, including many from Ephrata whom he remained close to throughout his life.

David W. Lee was cremated in an early-morning ceremony on Dec. 17, 2022 at the Crestone End of Life Project pyre. A celebration of his life gathering will take place this summer.