John Anthony Lee, age 93, of Little Compton, RI passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Charlton Memorial Hospital. John was born on August 5, 1931 in the city of Leeds, in Yorkshire England. He was the son of Joseph William Lee, a photographer on the police force and Florence Ena (Birkill) Lee, a teacher.
John was the beloved cousin of Edmund Lineham and Frances Walters, who
evacuated from London during WW2 to live with John and his family in Leeds. John began his studies at Leeds University, in medicine. He left school in 1951 to serve in the Royal Army Medical Corps, in Surrey, where he was the Captain in charge of staging medical training battles until 1954.
The Arts rather than science became John’s calling in life and he returned to Leeds University to study Textile Design. After graduation John was awarded a scholarship to study Arts and Textiles in America and he chose to attend Rhode Island School of Design. John departed from London and crossed the ocean on the Queen Mary in 1958, arriving in NYC and settling in Rhode Island. In 1967 John proudly became a US citizen.
John’s career as a textile stylist, spanned 50 years. From 1970 - 2007, he designed woven Jacquard textiles for furniture at Quaker Fabrics in Fall River, MA. He was a master stylist and trained and mentored young textile designers
during his long career. He retired at the age of 75.
John cherished all animals, especially his beloved Corgis. He delighted in his
garden and had a knack for growing orchids. He enjoyed literature and music, he played the piano and adored the music of George Gershwin. From childhood, and throughout his lifetime, John was passionate about American movies, and musicals from the 1930’s and 1940’s, and his favorite movie stars were, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Lauren Bacall, among others.
He was an avid lover of antique cars, planes and aviation. As a boy he saw the Hindenburg fly over his home. Years later, he learned to fly, achieving his childhood dream.
John Lee was known for his creative British flair and humor, generous spirit, and gentle heart. He made Rhode Island his home, gathering a family of dear friends along the way. John was deeply loved and will be missed by his friends and family in the United States and England.
Funeral service to which relatives and friends are invited will be Thursday, January 30, 2025 at the Potter Funeral Home at 6 PM.
Interment will be private.