Blog
Lee Stinnett dies
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 11/09/2009 11:49:00
- In: ASNE business
Former ASNE Executive Director Lee Stinnett died Saturday at his home in Asheville, N.C.
Former ASNE Executive Director Lee Stinnett died Saturday at his home in Asheville, N.C.
Although Lee had been battling Parkinson's disease for a decade, he had been managing an active life. Lee's partner, John Fragale, said that on Friday evening they had an enjoyable time, eating take-out and watching a funny movie. Saturday morning, John discovered Lee dead. Medical examiners attributed the death to heart disease.
Lee joined ASNE in 1981 and became executive director in 1983, serving for 16 years until retiring in June 1999. He moved to Asheville later that year, putting his passion into community activities and to renovating an arts and crafts home in the city.
Upon Lee's retirement, then ASNE President Edward Seaton wrote warmly of Lee's service to editors and American Journalism:
In 2003, he was honored by the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communications as recipient of the Gerald M. Sass Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Mass Communications. Lee's remarks are available at this link.
There will be a celebration of Lee Stinnett´s life at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 2:00 p.m. this Friday, November 13. The church is located at 1 Edwin Place (Corner of Charlotte Street), Asheville.
Friends wishing to do so may make contributions in memory of Lee to The Asheville Symphony Guild Music Education Program, PO Box 2852, Asheville, NC 28802. The home address is 208 Pearson Drive, Asheville, N.C. 28801.