Lee Donaldson Jr. spent his life wanting to give a voice to the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania, friends and family said.
"He was always an optimist," said his daughter, Kim Dingess of Indiana Township. "He never got sour on the world. He always believed we could make better decisions and learn from our mistakes."
Former state Rep. Lee A. Donaldson Jr. of Hampton, a member of the House of Representatives for 16 years, died of a heart attack on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, while on a cruise ship in the Baltic Sea. He was 84.
Mr. Donaldson served in the House from 1954 to 1970. He was majority leader in 1967 and minority leader in 1969. He was a delegate to the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention in 1967 and 1968 and to the Republican National Convention in 1968.
One of his proudest moments as a legislator was when he helped his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, become a state-related university, said former Rep. Richard Cessar, who succeeded Mr. Donaldson in the House.
"Lee was just a very exemplary individual," said Cessar. "He really had a lot of the attributes that people should have when they go into politics. He really had a lot of loyalty and integrity, and he was a people person."
Mr. Donaldson graduated from Allegheny College in 1946 and received a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950. His education was a route to life as a politician, said his son-in-law, John Dingess.
Mr. Donaldson was not yet 30 when first elected to represent the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. His daughter said he often wore an overcoat and hat to make himself look older and, therefore, more experienced, when he first started in politics.
"He was a statesman," his daughter said. "I think he believed you could make a difference, and was always willing to negotiate. He was willing to get past partisan politics and figure out what was best for Pennsylvania."
After retiring from politics in 1970, he returned to the practice of law. He served as solicitor for several school districts, including Hampton, Pine-Richland and North Hills, and was the first solicitor for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Mr. Donaldson continued to practice law until after he was 70.
After retirement, he concentrated on his tennis game, which he played often at the Wildwood Country Club in Hampton. He traveled extensively with his wife of 54 years, Katherine. The pair were on a Norwegian cruise with another couple when Mr. Donaldson died. They had just left St. Petersburg and were en route to Helsinki, Finland. The trip was the realization of a long-time dream to visit Germany and Russia, his daughter said.
"The one thing you can know about my dad is how much he loved my mother," she said. "They had a wonderful love affair and relationship that taught us all a great deal about marriage."
Mr. Donaldson would often entertain friends and family by spouting off old American poems such as "Casey at the Bat." When his daughter was in school, he decided to re-teach himself calculus and algebra so he could help her with homework.
"He just loved life, loved people," said John Dingess. "Maybe that's why he was so good at politics — he just loved talking to people."
In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Donaldson is survived by two sons, Lee III of Hampton and Stuart of Aspinwall; a brother, Harry Donaldson of Shaler; and several grandchildren.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in Bock Funeral Home, 1500 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Shaler. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday in Parkwood Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Blvd., Hampton.
