December  2022

Dear friends and family,

As many of you know, our beloved Art lost his valiant battle with Lewy Body Dementia  (LBD) on February 10th of this year. It happened to be my birthday, but I choose to look at it as his final gift to me, to know he is out of pain and suffering. Art was diagnosed  with LBD about six years ago, but we know he was suffering from the illness at least a year or two prior. Getting him to the doctor to be tested was not something my stubborn guy easily agreed to. But following some pretty significant issues, he begrudgingly agreed to submit to testing from the professionals. He was sure they would tell him he was “faking it,” and nothing was wrong with him. That was not to be. That being said, he never really accepted his illness, or its increasing limitations, physically and emotionally. That proved to be a challenge throughout his fight with LBD. 

I want to thank so many of you for supporting Art’s artistic endeavors. Countless numbers of  you made the trek out to his three art shows at the Artist Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place, much to his surprise and delight! Truly, it was such a boost for his morale and confidence! You gave this man such a gift, that it lifted his spirits for weeks! You blessed him, and our family, with your caring and faithfulness for his artistic mission in light of his weakening state. We are forever grateful.

I am convinced that not only his artwork, of which I still have hundreds in our basement (anyone want another Art Lee original?) gave him the drive to live on, but also his love of family; most dearly, our grandchildren. When he was first diagnosed we only had two little ones, when he passed away, we had five! When they each  entered the house one of their first words were “Where’s Papa?” Once they found him (usually painting in his basement makeshift studio), Art, their ever loving Papa,  was  always offered a warm hug or a kiss. Oh how he cherished those visits with the family! He was forever playful with the grandkids, and will be remembered with love for his silliness with them, always making them smile; and they in return, making him smile. What precious memories!

But in the fall we could see how crushingly  brutal the advancing LBD was as it began overtaking Art; he had deteriorated significantly, and was losing his battle with this insidious disease, and by the end of December, just before Christmas, it was clear I was no longer able to care for him safely at home. A wonderful hospice home was found, where he spent a little over a month  prior to his passing. We are forever thankful to the nurses and caregivers there, as they did an outstanding job caring for him. When we realized the end was imminent for Art, our family knew we would honor his wishes, to be cremated and have his ashes laid to rest in Loch Duich (a lake), which are the waters by the Eilean Donan Castle, in the Highlands of Scotland, where we had happily traveled as a family 12 years ago on the trip of a lifetime. 

Since Art died on my birthday, I thought it only fitting we send him off on his birthday! So it was, On October 6th, what would have been his 67th birthday, our family of ten, five adults and five (grand)children, made the trip across the Atlantic to Scotland, where we gathered at the Eilean Donan Castle to say our final goodbyes to Art. It was poignant, with his sons and daughters-in-law all sharing some loving thoughts of “Dad,” and our seven year old grandson declaring, “I loved Papa’s paintings!” With that, our sons, Kevin and David, walked to the water’s edge, and gently placed their dad’s cremated remains into the loch. The guys stood for a precious moment once the ashes were placed into the water, with arms around each other, for the last time they would be in the presence of their dad. A prayer was said, as we all held each other and cried. It was a beautiful way to pay our ultimate respects to a man who loved each and everyone of our family, and we will forever hold dear the memories of him, and of that day.

May you hold fond memories of Art as well,

Blessings,

Christine Lee