Lee Katzenbach was born in New York City in 1942. He always thought that was amusing since his life was so far removed from busy urban life. He was happiest in the presence of nature - birds, insects, reptiles, skies, oceans.
He grew up in New England but discovered the Northwest when he was a student at UPS in the 60s and always remembered Port Townsend when he rode his bicycle there one summer and ended up at a warmhearted, crowded gallery opening at Lainie Johnson’s.
In the intervening years, Lee worked as a commercial fisherman, a builder, a very reluctant member of the army reserve, a sailor and an inn-keeper.
He moved to Port Townsend from the West Indies in 1992 with his wife, Ann
Lee was an inveterate artist — painting, always drawing, and creating sculpture out of most anything that inspired him. He designed, restored and built several homes and small studios and even a few chicken coops in and around town. He was a member of the local arts community, a founding member of the 1004 Gallery in the 90s.
There are still many people in town who own and enjoy his whimsical artwork.
Winter weather was hard on Lee, so after 23 years, he and Ann decided to find more year-round sun. That took them to Patagonia Arizona where they lived happily and warmly for four years. When a mining conglomerate discovered zinc in the nearby mountains and started 24-hour drilling with the attendant truck traffic, Lee and Ann moved back to the east coast to be closer to their families.
In 2021 they returned to Washington and made their home at Panorama, a retirement community in Lacey. Lee had a family history of dementia, and he was not spared. A few weeks before Thanksgiving, with his memory and cognitive and physical abilities declining, he decided to end his life by stopping eating and drinking. He passed away at home on November 17, 2024.
A benefit sale of the many drawings and watercolors and sketchbooks that Lee left behind is planned for Saturday, February 15 starting at 1 p.m. at the RoseWind Common House, 3131 Haines St. (just off Umatilla). Proceeds will go to Compassion and Choices, a non-profit that legislates for people’s right to die.
