Lee H. Salisbury died peacefully on March 8, 2015 on Bainbridge Island, Washington at age 87.

Born June 6, 1927 to Thomas and Mary Salisbury in New York City, Lee joined the Navy in 1943. After return, he attended New York University on the GI Bill, earning a BS in ’49 and a Master of Arts in Teaching, Speech and Dramatics from Columbia University in ‘50.

Lee moved to California in 1954 to direct a theater production, where he met and married Lesley Voute Hampton. He was later lured to Alaska to teach at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks by Lesley’s sister, who was working at UAF.

Though Lee’s teaching responsibilities were in Speech and Radio, he immediately started directing plays on campus. Over the next 30 years, Lee directed almost 100 plays while at UAF. The theater was renamed in his honor, The Lee H. Salisbury Theater, in 1993.

Lee moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington in 2007 to be close to family.

Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Lesley, and is survived by his children Lisa, Tom, Lex, Druska, their sister Katie Egowa Beals, 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He is remembered as a fine actor, director, and storyteller whose kids grew up thinking that everyone read plays at the dinner table and had parties where show tunes on the piano and impromptu performances were the norm.

The family would like to thank all the folks at Wyatt House, Gentiva Home Health, Island Fitness, Nakata Pool, and Island Rehab who cared for our father these last few years. A private memorial will be held in April in Poulsbo, WA and in August in Fairbanks, AK. For information contact rosiecreek55@gmail.com or cyndysalisbury1@gmail.com.

For full obituary, please see cookfamilyfuneralhome.com and sign Lee’s guestbook.