WILMINGTON — Anthony Philip Lees, 86, passed away Thursday, March 16, 2017.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Ann; three children, Joanna (Miguel), Victoria (Howard) and David (Laine); and seven beloved grandchildren he was inordinately proud. They are Victor, Alexandra, Vivian and Evan Bell, Esteban Castro, and Zachary and Jarrod Lees.
Anthony was a loving husband, a wonderful father and a sweet and good man. He was born on Easter Sunday in 1930 in England, and grew up in Bramhall, Cheshire. He received his secondary education at London’s Mill High School, which was evacuated to the Lake District during World War II. He did his national service in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and rose to the rank of captain. He was also, at this time, enjoying rowing for Cambridge and Chester Rowing Club.
After graduating from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in Mechanical Sciences, he was involved in design and development of auto transmissions and brake linings and had a whale of a time testing out sports cars in the Pennine Hills! Subsequently, he found his true niche as a management consultant with PA Consulting Services.
In 1963, Anthony was following a passion of his, beagling in the Macclesfield hills, when he espied a fellow beagler, who turned out to be the love of his life, his wife, Ann. They were married in 1964 and enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 52 years. This included three years in Madrid, 15 years with PA Manchester, and then a grand opportunity with PA in the United States, first in Rochester, N.Y., and then in Princeton, N. J. Upon Anthony’s retirement, he and Ann moved to Wilmington, N.C., where they opened a garden shop, The English Garden. They very much enjoyed this joint venture, whilst also taking up painting together. And Anthony self-published a family memoir entitled Keeping Ahead of the Curve.
Anthony had been involved in a number of volunteer activities in Wilmington, including two years as the secretary of WHQR’S Community Advisory Board, six years on the board of the Wilmington Concert Association, two of those years as president, three on the vestry of SAOTS Church and two years as president of his local homeowners’ association.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 20, at St. Andrew’s on the Sound Episcopal Church, Airlie Road.
Donations may be made to SAOTS Endowment Fund.
Condolences to the family may be offered at coblewardsmithwilmington.com.