Lee H. Satterlee

Satterlee, Lee — 63. Lee lost his valiant five-year battle against cancer on April,12 2024. Having been diagnosed with HPV+ squamous cell carcinoma, he underwent extensive surgery including a laryngectomy and glossectomy. It would be his wish for everyone to become informed, get vaccinated, and encourage their family members to get vaccinated.

Lee earned a B.M. and M.M. from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and began his career as a music teacher in the Mohawk Central School District teaching there for two years. He subsequently took his career and passion to the Schenectady City School District where he was a K-8 and K-6 music teacher, band director, and choral director for twenty-two years.

Finding many students and families floundering, Lee shifted to an administrative role as Dean of Students where he could guide and mentor students and their families. Many students fondly called him Mr. S. He completed his administrative certification at the Leadership Academy at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and transitioned to an Assistant Principal at Onedia and Mont Pleasant Middle Schools finishing his career as an Assistant Principal at Schenectady High School in 2016. He "flunked" retirement and returned to the high school in a security position because he wanted to encourage, support, and see students make the walk across the commencement stage. His students were his joy, and his sole objective was to see them succeed academically and in life. Know that he was vested in and worried about his students on evenings, weekends, and school breaks.

Lee and his wife Karen forged lifelong memories with many short and long-distance trips. Once their son left home, they dated each other again and forged relationships with folks in the local nightlife scene. Lee had a gift for making strangers into friends and sharing his love for craft beer.

Being a father was an absolute joy. Lee was actively involved with his son in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, Little League, roller skating roller hockey, Odyssey of the Mind (the team made it to States!) and supported his passion for music performance and composition. The family house was the hangout during summer days where he would set up a badminton net and keep an eye on the neighborhood kids who came to play each day. He took advantage of Karen returning to the classroom. He and Chris had adventures on class nights that included finding Karen's chocolate stashes (that moved quite frequently), Genji Japan dinners, huge pillow fights in the living room, and other adventures unknown to Karen. He and Chris made several Beanie Baby hunting trips during the height of the fad.

Flower gardening became more than a hobby for Lee whose blooms start in March and continue through October. He included many landscaping and hardscaping designs in his gardening. His other passion was baking apple and pumpkin pies for family and friends.

Lee is survived by his wife of 39 years, Karen, their son Christopher and daughter-in-law Luz Guillermo, brother Ronald Satterlee (Fay) sister, Deborah Satterlee, beloved father-in-law, Michael Regan Jr., brother in-law Michael Regan Ill (Beth), sister-in-law Laura Marriott (Shawn), and dearly loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Harry and Marguerite Satterlee.

There are not enough words to express appreciation to our neighbors and friends whose boundless kindness included trips to and from the train station, bringing meals and baked goods to Karen, mowing lawns, caring for Lee's gardens and their cat during their stay at Hope Lodge, snow removal, picking up medications and groceries, and treasured handmade pictures and crafts from the neighbors' children. Their compassion and gracious living allowed Karen to focus her attention on caring for Lee.

The family would also like to thank Lee's team of doctors and medical support at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Without their compassion and dedication, he would not have enjoyed these past five years with his family. We would also like to thank NYOH who made the transition of treatment from Sloan seamless. Finally, many thanks to Community Hospice. This care enabled Lee to spend his last days at home looking out over his gardens and bird feeders.

There will be visitation hours at Bond Funeral Home on April 16th, 2024, commencing from 2-4 PM with a celebration of life ceremony at 4 PM led by Pastor George Carstensen. Please come as you are wearing wonderful colors and share your stories.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following: Hope Lodge of New York City, 132 West 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001 www.cancer.org

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center www.mskcc.org

The Community Hospice www.communityhospice.org