Leon “Lee” George Auger was born March 2, 1932 in Merrimac, MA and died March 14, 2023 in Wakefield, MA at the age of 91.
Lee and his first wife Hilda (Cottreau) raised their family in Somerville, MA and Medford, MA and Lee is survived their four children: Steven and his husband Myles Crowley; David and his wife Jeannie; Debbie and her husband Tony Teixeira; and Brian. Lee is survived by seven grandchildren: Jennifer, Jessica, Taylor, Joshua, Jordan, Jaimee and Sara and five great-grandchildren: Cameron, Charlee Rae, Jayden, Talan and Macayla. Lee is also survived by his second wife Rosalie’s family who were part of his life for years. Accepting and kind to everyone he met, Lee will be fondly remembered by nephews and nieces, and many relatives of his children.
He was predeceased by his parents Edward and Bessie Auger; his older brother Edward Auger; his first wife Hilda, who died in 1988; and his second wife, Rosalie (Morgan) who died in 2019. After Rosalie’s death, Lee lived with his son David’s family, and sadly, he became homebound after a debilitating stroke in 2020.
Lee was a member The Teamsters Local 25 and a forklift operator in various warehouses over the years including A&P, King Arthur’s Flour, Sweetheart Plastics and Durand’s Candy, where he met Hilda. From the A&P, Lee brought home prizes from broken cereal boxes as surprises for his children. He was also known to bring home the occasional homeless kitten because he had a soft spot for all animals. He and Rosalie had a few cats including his beloved Bonnie who was blind at the end of her life. Lee loved the Bruins, coaching Youth Street Hockey Leagues in the 70’s, the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and watching classic American movies.
Some of Lee’s fondest memories were of family summer vacations in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. As an avid fisherman, he would take his kids to Bunkers Island near Yarmouth where they would catch fish after fish, mostly flounder but one time even a small sand shark! Unbeknownst to Lee and his kids, there was a fish processing plant also on the island dumping chum into the water. Some might say from these fishing experiences, he instilled unrealistic expectations in his children but because of his own innocent excitement, he made his kids feel like the best fishermen, and fisherwoman, in North America.
Following a private family graveside ceremony on March 20th, Lee will be buried next to Hilda, in Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford.
Donations in his memory may be made to the MSPCA or the charity of your choice.