Dr. Jack Bennett Lee, 98, a native of San Antonio, died in Beaumont, Saturday, March 30, 2013. He graduated from old Main Avenue High School, attended the University of Texas for his pre-medical studies, and received his M.D. degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in 1938. Following an internship and surgical residency at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, he entered upon extended active duty with the United States Army Air Corps in 1940, serving as a Flight Surgeon throughout World War II, including overseas in Italy, and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the war he became a Fellow in Ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic and in 1949 entered a private practice in San Antonio. Dr. Lee was subsequently appointed Consultant at Brooke Army Medical Center and Clinical Professor in Surgery (Ophthalmology) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He also became active in medical-society activities, serving as Chief-of-Staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital, a Founder and President of the Texas Ophthalmological Association, President of Bexar County Medical Society, Vice-Speaker and subsequently Speaker of the Texas Medical Association House of Delegates, and a Charter Member and Secretary/Treasurer of Bexar County Medical Dinosaurs, a fellowship organization of retired physicians. Dr. Lee was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and was a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons.
In 1977, Dr. Lee retired from the practice of medicine, entered St. Mary’s University School of Law, graduated in 1979, and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1980. As physician/attorney he became a medico-legal consultant; and as an Adjunct Professor at St. Mary’s University Law School from 1982 until 1990, he taught a course on medical malpractice. Dr. Lee became certified by the American Board of Legal Medicine and was a Fellow in the American College of Legal Medicine. He also conducted a limited civil-law practice from his home office.
Dr. Lee was a lifelong member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, San Antonio. As a youth, he sang in the Junior Choir and served as an acolyte, and as an adult he taught the Sixth Grade Confirmation Class for twenty years. He was also, a Lay Reader for thirty-five years, a Vestryman for twelve years (including terms as Clerk, Junior Warden, and Senior Warden), and voluntary part-time organist for ten years.
In 1950, Dr. Lee became a Freemason and a Shriner. He subsequently served as Potentate of Alzafar Shrine Temple, Worshipful Master of Perfect Union Lodge, Grand Orator and District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, and Sovereign of the Red Cross of Constantine. He was coroneted a Thirty-Third Degree Scottish Rite Mason and was a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. Dr. Lee served as a lodge funeral master and conducted more than three hundred Masonic graveside services. He also played clarinet in Alzafar Shrine Band for fifty years and the pipe organ at the Scottish Rite Cathedral for twenty-five years.
Survivors include his sons, William Lee and his wife, Noreen, of Brimfield, Massachusetts and James Lee and his wife, Cheryl, of Carrollton; daughter, Sandy Fertitta and her husband, Joseph, of Beaumont; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Lee; son, Jack Lee, Jr.; brother, Thomas Lee; sister, Patsy Harper and her husband, Arthur.
Religious and Masonic graveside services for Dr. Lee will be conducted at Houston National Cemetery, Houston.
Dr. Lee’s family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to Mandie and Dr. Garrett Peel, Calder Woods staff and Mr. Ben Mazzara, and Chaplain Eddie Tubbs. Special appreciation also goes to Harbor Hospice and Dr. Arfeen and his caring staff. The family would like to extend their appreciation most especially to Mary Alice Jenkins, Libby Taylor, Claudia Pena, Carla Walker, and Wanda Murphy. Also, the family would like to extend their appreciation to Reverend Monsignor Salvador Culotta and Reverend David Edwards.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
