Lee Battat 1935 - 2024 Greenbrae, CA
Longtime Marin resident Lee Battat passed away on January 29, 2024 after a short illness.
Lee was born Lilo Wertheim to Erna Lehrburger Wertheim and Herman Wertheim in Munich, Germany in September 1935. Six months later she arrived with her parents in San Francisco. Lee attended San Francisco schools graduating from George Washington High School in 1953 where she was Vice President of the Senior Class and Co-Editor of the yearbook. That fall Lee matriculated to UC Berkeley where she pledged AE-Phi, was the fall 1956 Women’s editor of the Cal Engineer and a member of The Pelican. Lee graduated in 1957 with a degree in journalism along with membership in the professional societies of Phi Alpha Sigma, Prytanean and Theta Sigma Phi.
After college Lee pursued a career in advertising copywriting for City of Paris, The White House and Livingston stores; later on she was the editor of the San Pedro Pointer and eventually the assistant editor and columnist for the San Rafael Pointer.
Lee met her husband Frank in May 1951 at George Washington High but showed little interest in him then. More than six years later they renewed their acquaintance which led to Lee falling in love with Frank and they married in the spring of 1958. They first settled in the city and then moved to San Rafael in 1959. Lee and Frank both believed in giving back to the community; Lee was involved with Sunny Hills, ORT, Hadassah, JVS, JFCS and served for twelve years on the Executive Board of the JCF Women’s Division. She was also involved in her children’s schools and served on PTA boards including two years as President of the Santa Venetia PTA. She served on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Curriculum for the San Rafael City Schools. Lee was also an excellent campaign manager having run Dottie Breiner’s two successful bids for City Council.
In 1982 Lee joined the family owned Lakespring Winery and became their top salesperson. Later she moved on to national marketing and retired in 1992 to devote time to family, friends and giving to her community.
Lee enjoyed the outdoors starting as a child through adulthood. Skiing, hiking, tennis, water aerobics and going to the gym were daily rituals, her motto being “use it or lose it”. For more than four decades she and Frank were ardent boaters whether by sail or power boat. But above all her favorite activity was traveling around the world which she did with gusto with Frank and later as a family.
Lee was an exceptional mother to Mark, Michael and Suzanne, a caring Mother-in-law to Susan Battat & Frank Dowling and an adoring & fun-loving Grandmother to Hannah Battat, Aidan and Cian Dowling.
In a lifetime filled with many achievements, the only one that mattered was her 65-year marriage to Frank. Frank and Lee were true lovers and partners in every sense, and both gave each other a magical wonderful life of love, laughter & happiness. Her vibrant personality, infections laugh, caring advice and love will sorely be missed by friends and family near and far.
Contributions to the Rodef Sholom Sacred Space capital campaign preferred.