ICA Legend Dr. Chris Lee, Vice President and Environment Program Director, Dies

NEW YORK - September 6, 2002 - Dr. Christopher M. Lee, who established the Environment Program for the International Copper Association (ICA), died on Thursday, September 5, at his home in West Chester, Penn. Lee had been battling cancer for the past year.

Throughout his career, Lee worked on various environmental issues. Most recently, he was a valued member of ICA, having joined the organization in 1995. His many contributions began with his first assignment, addressing the challenges facing the copper industry's growing commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and regulatory responsiveness. He created a modern science program, built on a foundation of environmental leadership, scientific quality, and proactive accomplishments. In the early years of the program he earned the respect, admiration and confidence of industry members and the staff who joined him in his vision and mission.

Under Lee's leadership, his team established the credibility of scientific research on behalf of the copper industry, in service to the effective defense of copper markets and the promotion of new markets. ICA's current Environment Program and its mission are crafted in the image of Lee's vision and guidance.

Perhaps the greatest hallmark of his success at ICA is the development and acceptance of the Biotic Ligand Model. This scientific accomplishment changed the way in which copper and other metals are viewed in the natural environment. Still a work in progress, the contribution that the model will make to responsible environmental regulations around the globe will establish Lee's example as a positive influence on the power of great science for the betterment of life.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of Chris' death. He was a brilliant scientist, effective leader and invaluable leader of our team," said Francis J. Kane, President of ICA. "More than this, he was a warm-hearted, genuine human being, a real gentleman."

"I enjoyed working with Chris immensely. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the copper community," said M. Brian O'Shaughnessy, chairman, president and CEO of Revere Copper Products, Inc. and chairman of ICA's Environmental Program Advisory Committee.

Lee was born in Birkenhead, England, the son of the late Francis Norman Lee and Mabel Emily Walton Lee. After graduating from the University of London, U.K., with honors in a double major of zoology and botany and a minor in chemistry, he went on to achieve a doctorate in marine science from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. As a senior scientific officer at the Institute for Marine Environmental Research, his accomplishments included sailing as scientist-in-charge aboard National Environmental Research Council research vessels.

His move to Unilever Research occurred at a time when many first-generation environmental issues were coming to the forefront, and Lee left his mark leading defining research on the environmental effects of detergent surfactants - at the time a high-profile environmental issue. As his responsibilities for worldwide hazard evaluation programs grew at Unilever, Lee operated with the belief that actions are truly meaningful only when they are followed with effective accomplishments, a belief that remained with him and his staff through his career.

After sixteen years at Unilever, Lee moved to the United States in 1988 to assume a leadership role for health and environmental science and risk assessment practices at Roy F. Weston, where he became vice president and head of the Life Systems Department. On his watch, many significant policy-oriented analyses and site-specific pollution evaluations were performed by Weston in support of government and industry.

Lee became a U.S. citizen in 1994. He served as the chair of EPAC, the Environment Public Advocacy Center. He was also an avid naturalist, birdwatcher and wildlife painter.

Lee had a large and extended family. He is survived by his wife, Norma Jean Lee, as well as his three children, Matthew Lee, Simon Lee, and Philippa Prescott of Greasby, England; three stepdaughters, Colleen MacDonald of West Chester, Penn., Michelle Gangel of Delmar, NY, and Christine Smith of East Earl, Penn.; as well as six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Sept. 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Trinity, High and Union Streets, West Chester Pennsylvania 19382.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christopher M. Lee Memorial Fund, c/o Church of the Holy Trinity, 212 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19382.