For Michael Lee ’72, Pine Crest was never simply the school he attended. It was where he found lifelong friends, discovered his confidence and developed the work ethic that shaped the rest of his life. Bright, endlessly curious and armed with what his sister, Cindy Lee Smet (1974), describes as a "wicked sense of humor," Michael approached life with intelligence, warmth and an uncanny ability to make people laugh. He excelled in the classroom, built a successful career in fashion and traveled the world, but no matter where life took him, Pine Crest remained one of the places he treasured most.
The friendships Michael formed as a student endured for more than 50 years. He stayed in close contact with classmates, championed reunions and delighted in bringing people back together.
"He was the hub of the wheel," Cindy said. "Those Pine Crest friends stayed connected through Michael." To Cindy, his enduring affection for the School came down to something simple. "Pine Crest had been so good to him," she said. "He really wanted to thank the School." That gratitude inspired Michael to include Pine Crest in his estate plans, creating a lasting legacy that will provide financial assistance for future students.
“Michael’s kindness and steadfast belief in Pine Crest were deeply meaningful to me,” said Pine Crest President Dr. Dana Markham ’18H. “His friendship and confidence in the School reflected the extraordinary generosity of spirit that defined his life.”
Cindy believes her brother’s planned gift reflected the same generosity that defined the way he lived. It was his way of saying thank you to a school that had given him so much while encouraging others to help sustain its future. Cindy believes Michael would have wanted others to understand why Pine Crest mattered so deeply to him and why its future was worthy of his support. One of her favorite memories is how excited he became after making that commitment. She remembers the joy and sense of purpose it gave him to know that his gratitude for Pine Crest would live on. It is a memory that captures Michael perfectly: generous, grateful and always thinking about the people and places that meant the most to him.