Lee Richard Trousdale
September 20, 1939 - May 22, 2013
Obituary
Lee Richard Trousdale, 73, of Mercer Island, WA, passed away suddenly of a stroke May 22, 2013, surrounded by family. Lee is survived by his wife of 36 years, Rita, his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Daria, of San Francisco, CA, his brother, Greg, of Seattle, WA, his brother- and sister-in-law, Louis and Dee Cella, of Renton, WA, and many cousins.
Lee was born September 20, 1939 in Walla Walla, WA to Richard and Nina Trousdale. He attended schools in Walla Walla and graduated from Walla Walla High School, class of 1957, where he was a member of the National Honor Society. Lee was introduced at a young age to both guitar and Spanish, which would become lifelong passions. As a child, he took up ham radio (originally operating as W7VOL, and later in life, as K7VL), and even fabricated some of his own ham radio equipment and hi-fi gear.
Lee attended the University of Washington and graduated in 1961. At the UW, Lee majored in Spanish literature and minored in psychology and engineering. For his junior year, Lee moved to Mexico City to study abroad. This keen interest in international affairs foreshadowed a long career to come in international business and foreign relations.
Lee served in the U.S. Army as an interrogator, then moved on to Northwest Airlines’ management program, which included time in Japan. Lee spent many years in strategic international sales for Boeing, focused on South America. He did business in over 40 countries. Later he would become the British Vice Consul for the Pacific Northwest. Lee returned to his passion for airplanes and avionics at Rockwell-Collins, where he was manager of customer relations for over a decade, and retired in 2002.
In retirement, Lee enjoyed playing tennis, completing his radio conquest of the globe, influencing public policy, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. He was a member of the Mercer Island Country Club, the Western Washington DX Club of Ham Radio Operators, the Mercer Island Emergency Management Team, and the Seattle Consular Corps. He also recently achieved dual Italian-American citizenship.
Despite battling metastatic pancreatic cancer for almost 6 years, Lee was in excellent shape, full of energy, playing tennis twice a week, and brimming with zest for life. He was always a very spiritual man. While his loss has been shocking and full of grief, losing him at the peak of his game is the best that his family could have hoped for. He will be greatly missed, but his spirit will never be far from us.
Lee’s funeral mass will take place at St. Monica’s Parish on Mercer Island (4311 88th Ave SE), Wednesday, May 29, at 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life in Lee’s honor will take place later in the day at the Mercer Island Country Club (8700 SE 71st St), at 4:30 p.m., open to friends and family.
Heartfelt thanks to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and the ICU staff of Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill. Donations may be made to the SCCA (http://www.seattlecca.org/scca-make-a-donation.cfm).
LEE, YOU HAVE WON THE BATTLE. YOU ARE NOW HOME WITH YOUR LORD. WE WILL MISS YOU THIS YEAR AT THANKSGIVING. I AM THINKING YOU HAVE SHOWED US ALL HOW TO BATTLE CANCER WITH DIGNITY. IT IS NOW UP TO US TO USE WHAT YOU HAVE TAUGHT.
GO, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW…SHOW US THE WAY. GOD SPEED!
Lee es un hombre del mundo. Que en pas descanse.
Lee, see you on the next court. Jim
Lee,
Thank you for always welcoming our family with warmth and generosity; for radiating humor, tenacity, and optimism. I only wish I had some more time to sit down with you and listen to the colorful anecdotes of your history. Fortunately, a part of your legacy will shine through your son who will unequivocally, spend his life sharing your story.
Thank you for the privilege of allowing us to know you.
Love,
The Klein Family
Lee, keep pounding the key and good DX to you.
from your boyhood friend Dick W7YBD
Lee is a very kind person willing to share his knowledge
I met Lee at a Seattle Consular Association meeting. In our conversation, I discovered that we had many common interests, including world affairs. From there on, when we got togetner, we had many things to talk about. I miss Lee. Further, I miss our intellecual discussions on how to make this a better world that we live in.
Lee, actually Riccardo for me, because when I wrote to him I would say Ciao Lee and told him it sounded like some kind of chinese food so he decided to use Riccardo instead.
I will sorely miss my friend and fellow Italian citizen, Riccardo.
May the hearer of prayer continue to strengthen your family.The days ahead will get easier as you lean on those close to you for encouragement.
It has been some time since we graduated from the old Walla Walla High School and left Walla Walla. I work for Bonney Watson these days and I will stop and say hi when I am walking by. I was glad that you had a full life and wonderful family.