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Donald Edward 'Don' Lee, Food Industry Executive
d.14 Jun 1993
- Donald Edward 'Don' Lee, Food Industry Executive1934 - 1993
Facts and Events
About Don Lee
Donald Edward "Don" Lee was born 30 October 1934 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, son of Alfred Franklin Lee (1909-1989), and his wife Mae Jean Evans (1911-2002). In the 1940 U.S. Census, Donald Edward Lee, age 5, is listed with his father Alfred F. Lee, (born abt. 1910 in California), who was listed as a Supervisor and Salesman in the Publishing House Industry. Also listed were Donald's mother Mae J. Lee (born abt. 1912 in Kansas) and older brother Alfred J. Lee (age 6), along with eight others listed as "lodgers".
Don worked much of his professional career with Gelson's Markets, which he joined in 1952, working his way up to Vice President. He introduced such concepts as service delis, salad bars and gourmet food departments, while at the same time making customer service the top priority. After working for Gelsons for 34 years, Don Lee moved to the supplier side of the business in 1986 when he joined [then] Dairy Fresh, one of the premier gourmet food distributors in the country, now known as DPI Specialty Foods, Inc.. Lee distinguished himself at Dairy Fresh by bringing his retail and cost-control experience and bringing increased sales and profitability to Dairy Fresh during his tenure. Don retired as President/Chief Executive Officer of DPI/Dairy Fresh Products in October 1992.
Don Lee was instrumental in the development of the California Grocers Association ("CGA") and was inducted into the California Grocers Association's "Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement", and was the first person to be awarded the "Presidents Award" of the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council (DDBC) in January 1993. . His contributions to both the retail and supplier side of the Southern California Grocery industry were immeaureable. He was a true gentleman, mentor and friend to many in the industry.
Donald Lee passed away on Tuesday June 14, 1993 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from complications of cancer and lung disease. He was survived by his wife, Joyce, two daughters, Sheri Lee and Teri O'Connor, and two granddaughters.
Image Gallery
References
- Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
Name: Donald E. Lee
SSN: 546-42-0167
Last Residence: 91304 Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
BORN: 30 Oct 1934
Died: 14 Jun 1993
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)
- California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.
California, Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Donald Edward Lee
Social Security #: 546420167
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 30 Oct 1934
Birth Place: Illinois
Death Date: 15 Jun 1993
Death Place: Los Angeles
Mother's Maiden Name: Evans
- Cook, Illinios, United States. Cook County, Birth Index, 1916-1935. (Cook, Illiniois, United States: Cook County Clerk's Office, 2008).
Cook County, Illinois Birth Index, 1916-1935
Name: Donald Lee
Birth Date: 30 Oct 1934
Birth Location: Cook County, IL
File Number: 6038691
Archive Collection Name: Cook County Genealogy Records (Births)
Archive repository location: Chicago, IL
Archive repository name: Cook County Clerk
- United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
1940 United States Census
Name: Donald Edward Lee
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1935
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
House Number: 1319
Sheet Number: 2A
Attended School or College: Yes
Highest Grade Completed: None
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred F Lee 30
Mae J Lee 28
Alfred F Lee 6
Donald Edward Lee 5
Nellie Towle 51
Clifford Storn 53
John Walter Jensen 46
Ernest E Athey 46
Barbra Marcinka 45
Morton Boettcher 45
Myrtle Boettcher 41
Oscar H Schulz 64
- Los Angeles, California, United States. Los Angeles Times
18 June 1993.
Donald E. Lee; Former Leader of Southland Grocers' Assn.
June 18, 1993
Donald E. Lee, former president of the Southern California Grocers' Assn., has died at the age of 58.
Lee died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of cancer and lung disease.
A native of Chicago who grew up in Los Angeles and attended UCLA, Lee had served as vice president of Gelson's Markets. Since 1986, he had been president and chief executive officer of Dairy Fresh Products, based in Ontario.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, two daughters, Sheri Lee and Teri O'Connor, and two granddaughters.
Services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.
The family has asked that any memorial donations be made to Amerson Music Ministries, 11846 Balboa Blvd., Suite 337, Granada Hills, Calif 91344, or to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
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