We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love.-George Bernard Shaw

If the general had known how big a funeral he was going to have, he would have died years ago.-Abraham Lincoln

What is the world to a man when his wife is a widow.-Irish proverb

Sam Lee was born and educated in Canada, and he began his association with the automotive industry through Chevrolet dealerships, first in New York and then in Chicago. It was in Chicago in 1948 that Lee organized Lee Fleet Management, Inc., and later moved the operation to Cleveland where he had purchased a Ford dealership. This company became one of the largest fleet and equipment leasing firms in the nation.

Lee acted as a consultant to America's largest concerns interested in modernizing their fleet operations, as well as helping established lease companies improve their operations. He also assisted car dealers in organizing lease departments.

After his companies were sold, Lee organized the Fleetway System in California, installing leasing departments in car dealerships in eight western states. The program was merged into the Chevway system, organized by Lee for Chevrolet.

Lee was editor and publisher of Lease News and author of three books: Introduction to Leasing, Automotive Transportation in Industry, and Fleet and Lease Manager's Handbook.

From 1972 to the end of 1979, Lee was vice president of marketing for Alameda Bancorporation's subsidiary, First Leasing Corporation.

He was a giant of a man. Not that you would confuse him with the Jolly Green Giant, or Goliath, or the Chicago bears' new draft choice known as the "Fridge." But he was sturdy in stature and a true Goliath of the fleet and leasing business. While my memory of him would place him over six fleet, he was big in many other ways. Great of heart, for instance; probably helping more people in this business of ours than anyone in history. He was long on knowledge. He knew, practiced, and developed every phase of the vehicle market and was considered an oracle when fleet and leasing problems arose. He was the guy you thought of when you were in trouble; or needed an answer; or had to be bailed out.

Many believed that he should have been a professor, or some other kind of legendary educator. He epitomized that "Gary Cooperish" kind of easy-going personality. He had that infectious ever-present smile, kind and warm, and his eyes were knowing. Sam, quite properly, could have held his own on the lecture circuit with the likes of Kissinger and Billy Graham, possessing the charisma of Kennedy and Reagan. He could speak eloquently for hours on his favorite topic of fleet and leasing. He delighted in relating the nuances of the business, recalling the almost-ancient stories that stoke the embers of our minds.

Sam Lee was a big man in spirit, devoted to his heritage, his community, and his religion. He also possessed that special kind of vision that most of us fondly wish we had innately. He was admired, envied, respected, and loved. God, we're going to miss him; and his memory will live.