Lee Adnepos passed away peacefully on July 31st, 2024 at home in Rochester NY at the age of 84. He was an inspired teacher in all aspects of his life and he taught about what he loved. He loved fighting for human rights and social justice, reducing suffering, aiding refugees and eliminating hunger. He loved being of service to others, with gentle kindness, curiosity, and wisdom. He loved watching his students grow and learn the value of attention and quality.
He loved Shakespeare and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. He loved Gandhi, Thoreau, and Thich Nhat Hanh. He loved simplicity and quiet meditation. He loved arguing politics and discussing religion and philosophy. He loved the Brooklyn Dodgers and chocolate almond ice cream. He loved swimming at the JCC, hiking in the Adirondacks, and sitting quietly with a good book.
He loved his wife Judy, his children Carol (Kevin) and Barbara (Brent), his grandchildren Molly, Elliot, and Ollie, his sister Marjorie(William) and his extended family. He loved, and was loved by, his students, friends, and colleagues. He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Foodlink food bank in Rochester NY (https://foodlinkny.org) or a charity of your choice.
If Lee was a teacher of yours in any way, please feel free to leave him a review at Rate My Professor: https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/187806
I am very sorry for you loss of your husband, father, and grandfather. I loved his class and he inspired me to become an English major due to his passionate teaching about Shakespeare. I have fond memories of having class held at your house on Rockingham on one or two occasions. I was very impressed with all the artwork from his children framed and hung on almost every inch of the living room and dining room walls. I had never seen anything like that. I matted and framed my own two children’s artwork, and to this day, over 40 years since I was his student, still have pictures on the wall, including my grandchildren’s drawings.
He lived an wonderful life, was very inspirational, and i hope you know the true treasure he was.
I’m so sorry to learn of Lee’s death. When I taught courses in the Honors program, he was a thoughtful and encouraging mentor. I know he will be missed, by those who remember him and by all touched by his teaching.
I am so deeply sorry to hear about the loss of Lee and want to extend my condolences to Judy, Barbara, Carol and the entire family. To me, Lee was a teacher, a mentor and a friend. His honors course was one of those life-changing classes that alters your trajectory, and what I learned from him in that class continues to influence me today. He continued to talk with and support me over the years that followed, and was influential in my decision to become an educator. And when I was hired to teach at MCC, his was the first office that I visited, and so appreciated his joy in that news. On a trip just this past summer to Kyoto, sitting in a Zen monastery, I could not help but think of him, the course, and Zen and the Art…, and started to share some of the details of Zen and Taoism with my own son. I know Lee would have enjoyed hearing about that, and while I’m sorry I did not get the chance to share that with him, I’m grateful that he made that moment possible and poignant. Thank you, Lee.
Dear Judy, and family—
I am so very sad to hear of Lee’s passing. He was such an influence and mentor to me in my initial years as a teacher at MCC. He had faith in me and in my abilities, and that faith was infectious: others began to take notice of me, because of him. I remember long talks with him about literature and movies. I also remember visiting your home, and the adorable rack of slippers by the door. The last time I saw Lee was when he visited the department about 5-6 years ago. He was visibly changed by the illness but still warm and happy as ever. Seeing him so brought me great joy. I am glad he died peacefully at home—that’s a fitting end for a great man like him. I will continue to miss and remember him.