Lee Jeronimo

Lee Jeronimo, 74, died May 11th after a short illness. She was born to Armand and Marian (Gordon) Jeronimo on August 16, 1944 in Brooklyn, NY. Despite spending 34 years in the Houston area and the past 12 years in the Pacific Northwest, she proudly maintained her Brooklyn accent and her New York City style of driving. She knew where she wanted to go, and she single-mindedly pursued her goal.

Some would say Lee was a late bloomer. She dropped out of high school, then finished her GED at the age of 27. Taking college classes here and there, she finished her Bachelor’s Degree at the age of 47. Deciding “I’m on a roll now,” she began law school at 48, graduating and passing her bar exam on the first try at the age of 52. She worked for five years in Houston at a non-profit legal clinic serving clients living with HIV/AIDS. In her last five years of legal practice, she worked as a Social Security Disability Attorney, assisting her clients in getting the benefits due to them. She loved helping people find justice in their lives.

Lee enjoyed reading, watching her Seahawks, and listening to classical music. In her hospital room the last week of her life, one could hear classical guitar, Gregorian chant, symphonies, and her all-time favorite 1812 Overture. For the past two years she was studying Spanish at Cascadia Community College, hoping to go to Spain and visit with distant cousins in the Andalucía region.
Lee is survived by her spouse, Gloria Root of Bothell, cousins Cathy Fyfe (David) of Texas, Jane Fuller of Vermont, and John Jeronimo (Julie) of Florida, quasi-grandchildren Ally and Brent Freeman of Friendswood, TX, and a host of friends.

A celebration of Lee’s life will be held on Saturday, June 8th at 2:00 p.m. at the Woodcrest Estates Clubhouse, 11808 NE 172nd St., Bothell, WA 98011. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Lee’s memory to Evergreen Hospice (12040 NE 128th St MS#5, Kirkland, WA 98034) or to Homeward Pet Adoption Center (P.O. Box 2293, Woodinville, WA 98072.)