Lee F. Harvey

Hampton, NH - Lee Fairfax Harvey, 75, of Hampton, NH died peacefully in his sleep on July 16, 2024. 

“My life has been ‘normal’, but my life has had extraordinary experiences with good friends and family. My paths have been shared with very good people who have helped make life very special. I continue to be amazed and surprised at the goodness in people. My life has given me many challenges, but also many gifts along my way.”

– Lee’s memoir

 The son of Herbert F. Harvey and Jane (Ferguson) Harvey, Lee was born December 13, 1948 in Cleveland, OH. A graduate of Shaker Heights High School in 1967 and Ohio State University, he earned Master’s Degrees from the University of Colorado (Boulder) and Rochester Institute of Technology (NY).

 Architect by trade, Lee also had a passion for furniture design and woodworking. Lee spent ten years in Colorado, where he designed and built his own home, before moving to Maine where he met his wife of 27 years, Kelly, and welcomed his only child, Amelia. He was a wonderfully dedicated father, never lacking in eye-roll-worthy dad-jokes.

 The young family of three returned to the Harvey family home in Burton, OH to be close to Lee’s parents at the end of their lives. Lee considered himself very fortunate to have the parents and upbringing that he did and took great comfort in time with his sisters and their families throughout his life.

 Eventually settling on the Seacoast of NH, Lee was fortunate to join TMS Architects, where he found a second family and many lifelong friends. Joining this firm was, in many ways, the final piece of the puzzle that led to some of the happiest years of Lee’s life.

 Lee was a natural athlete for much of his life, running cross-country and playing basketball and baseball in school. Later in life he developed a love of kayaking and often spent weekends exploring the waters of the Seacoast with friends and colleagues. He took his years of woodworking experience and channeled it into building his own beautiful 18’ sea kayak, which today hangs in place of pride at the TMS office.

 His stroke in 2004 changed nearly every aspect of Lee’s life – he had to focus on, and rediscover, the connection between his mind and body. His perseverance and optimism in the face of such change continue to be an inspiration to the people who knew and loved him. Always soft-spoken and somewhat shy, Lee became more outgoing, empathetic, vulnerable, and humorous after his brain injury.

 Following his stroke, Lee became a member of Stepping Stones, now known as The David Krempels Brain Injury Center (KBIC) in Portsmouth. The staff, members, and programming at Krempels provided Lee with wonderful friendships, creative outlets, and a community that he truly loved. The importance of this program for Lee and many of his friends cannot be overstated, it is truly a gift to our community.

 Lee is survived by his daughter, Amelia, of Portsmouth, NH as well as his three sisters, Sue (Jack) Dingle of Upper Arlington, OH; Sandy (Roy) Wunderlich of Helena, MT and Linda (Dave) Branstetter of Stockton, MO, and 4 nephews, 3 nieces, 6 grandnephews and 6 grandnieces.

 A Celebration of Life will be held at Krempels Center at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lee’s memory to KBIC (https://kbicenter.org/)