Personal
Lee was born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. He loved everything about Brooklyn, from PS 197 to James Madison High School to Brooklyn College, where he dabbled in writing but finally settling on a business degree as the specter of making his way in the world loomed larger. After college, an MBA from NYU, a girl named Heather, marriage, children, and lots of hard work as Lee tried to provide for his family. In 1983, a job relocation to South Florida, the kids growing up, a ton of soccer, Little League, flag football games, and work, work, work. In 1992, an idea for a business. A deep breath, a decision to take a shot, and a new enterprise was formed. Now the work really began! Success came early but was almost immediately followed by a diagnosis of breast cancer and suddenly, everything changed. Eight years later, having sold his flourishing business and recently widowed, he wrapped his arms around his grown kids and wondered, “What now?” His experience taught him not to dawdle or waste precious time. When he met the lovely Janet, she filled his life with joy. They married and became partners in sharing life’s adventures. One of those adventures was writing a novel, a long suppressed dream that he now had the time and resources to pursue.
Baseball
Baseball has been Lee’s constant companion since he was seven years old – when his dad took him to see his first ball game at Ebbets Field. This was followed by a brief and largely unsuccessful Little League career. While he wasn’t all that good on the ball field he became an all-star at collecting baseball cards, just like most of his friends back then. But just like most of his friends back then, his cards eventually wound up in the garbage as the moms-of-the-day went about ridding their homes of what they considered to be junk. Lee inherited his love of baseball from his dad who, one day, surprised him with a gift – the baseball cards he had collected as a kid. Miraculously, they had survived. They were old Goudey cards that dated back to 1933. Card #160, Lou Gehrig, became Lee’s favorite. Lee put those cards in a special place and vowed that no harm would come to them.
Through his triumphs and tragedies, baseball remained a continuing passion and source of comfort. His participation in a fantasy baseball league (now going on twenty years) helped him through his darkest times. Once a passionate Met fan, Lee’s love of the game evolved so that today he is more a fan of baseball rather than any particular team. He was astounded by the explosive growth in value of America’s Hobby – baseball cards. As his finances allowed, he started collecting vintage cards in earnest. Somewhere along the way, the seed of a plot took root and over several years grew clearer – baseball, a valuable card, the greatest player of all time. After a couple of years of mental plotting and three years of writing, Chin Music emerged.
Writer
Lee started writing short stories in college but only for family and friends. Though he loved writing, Lee never seriously thought about it as a career. He enjoyed business, too, and it seemed to be a far more reliable way to make a living. As it turned out, Lee was much better at business than playing baseball. He was good enough that he was able to retire and pursue his other passion. Chin Music is his first novel. He is hard at work on his second, Mound Music.
