Lee Queensberry, long-time beach captain for the Worrell 1000 and former Worrell sailor himself, died late last night at the age of 58.
He had been suffering for the past couple years from mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure in his past.
As long-time friend Chuck Bargeron said this morning, "Sailing has lost a great friend."
We will have more information later this morning. I just wanted to let his many friends know. It has been a great shock to Rick and me, because we had no idea that his illness was so serious.
I have just heard that Lee did not want a funeral service, but there will be a memorial service either during the Key Largo Steeplechase or the Tybee 500. Information will be posted about that as soon as we know it.
Our sympathies go to Lee's son John and to Lee's significant other of many years, Dale Kantowski, who was with Lee to the end.
I was looking through a Worrell 1000 reports from 2000 and found the following quotes.
" The racers spent the day relaxing and the shore crews worked busily through the afternoon rebuilding the boats. Everyone enjoyed an evening off. Lee Queensberry, Mike Worrell's right-hand-man, hadn't slept since 6 AM the previous day. He caught a wink from 5 to 8 then went out to dinner with the race officials. "It's OK, I'm used to working at night," said Queensberry, "I'm a repo-man.""
"Team outer-banks approached the beach with a full head of steam and dug their bow into the sand, causing a spectacular capsize that threw both sailors off the boat. Peanut Johnson went headfirst into the bow pole, bending it like a pretzel, while John McGlaughlin was thrown out the back into 1 foot of water. Neither was hurt badly, but both suffered bruises. Davis Murray was sent through the mainsail in a capsize, but the play of the day went to the team that ran down beach master Lee Queensberry, causing him to lose his glasses."
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Jack
Lee was a great fellow, and reliable to a fault during the Worrells that I participated in. He always had a good story and a lack of grouch. I'm really sorry to hear that he is gone. After reading a Zack Leonard report, I'm sorry that the Worrell 1000 is gone too... Maybe Lee should have been in charge!
I was only able to meet Lee once but his love of distance cat racing was incredible. We met with him last year as we were organizing the Outer Banks 500 and working with Chuck and the Tybee to create the Atlantic 1000. His energy and ideas were endless and he was supposed to come along and help but his health prevented it. He sent Neil and Bill along and they had to check in with him after every finish during the Atlantic 1000. We would like to extend our condolences to Lee's family and friends. Lee you will be missed and always remembered!
Jon Britt and Charles Thuman
Outer Banks Catamaran Club
There will be a memorial service and get-together at The Raven Restaurant, 1200 Atlantic Avenue, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Monday, 25 October 2004, starting at 7:00 p.m. There will also be some sort of memorial ceremony in Florida, possibly in December, at the Steeplechase.
For those of you who knew Lee, you already know what a great person he was. For those of you who never had a chance to meet him, know that he had a heart of gold and was a true and loyal friend. He worked hard and with dedication in everything he did. He loved the sailors with whom he was involved in the Worrell 1000, and but for his illness, would have been Beachmaster for the Tybee 500/Outer Banks 500 that followed it. Everyone whose life was touched by his is better from it.
He was a dear friend of ours, and we will miss him terribly. Our sympathies go out to Dale, to his family and to all who knew him.
Robert & Jeanine Feldman
A memorial service will be held March 12 in the Florida Keys for Lee Queensberry, and his ashes will be scattered on the Atlantic Ocean off Islamorada. A number of his friends are planning to attend this gathering to honor his memory and his love of the Keys.
Details will be available soon.
Lee loved the sport and 1000 mile race and was solidly always there for all race teams and each race participant,-ever present and a welcome familiar stout figure finishing teams, taking times ,strobe light flashing until all hours each day and night at the finish checkpoint locations ,-he embodied the spirit of the race and always will be remembered to the many who sailed to Lees welcome after numerous extreme race legs on the Atlantic .
I was never so happy and proud when finishing a difficult race leg then when Lee would give a congrates or well done ,and a "welcome to Tybee Island " or any of 12 locations along the 1000 mile route North up the eastern US seaboard .
My favorite story Lee told was of earlier 1000s, it was the only year the race was haulted due to the extreme weather and sea conditions , One team missed the checkpoint
{Rod} and continued sailing northward , Lee ever vigulent as beach captain hopped in a new Jeep Cherokee and chased northward driving along the beach flasing lights and sounding horns for miles and miles into dark vacant night, Lee and the jeep finally haulted only after an unrelenting wild Atlantic surf and rising tide swamped then buried the vehicle.After a few beverages of choise, and as Lee told it ,a great 1000 race story that typifies the spirit Lee exemplified with great concern, care of others, and character.
Many teams in the 1000 mile race often showed this same spirit just in finishing ,-Jamie and team in 98 comes to mind after being thrown by surf ,injured,having the boat smashed to pieces and cartwheel down the beach,then miraculacly getting it back together and finishing the 1000 miles in following days racing .-Team P-Yacht rigging a broken mast with jury rig spin and finishing ,-other teams being injured, hitting objects afloat ,running aground , and with broken boats finding within the strength and ability to finish the race and goal they set out to achieve that Lee was very much a part and always will be.
It may be most appropriate to remember Lee in this same spirit and also to honor his memory with an award -trophy to the team that also exemplifies this spirit with consent of all teams .
In future 1000 mile races , after facing huge surf and 100 miles of high winds and confused seas ,-exhausted as you approach the checkpoint don,t be surprized if through the onshore lights and distinctive orange strobe light flashing until early morning hours straining through the Atlantic surf you see that familiar stout figure standing at the surfs egde ever concerned for each racer and willing them on to the finish and to achieve their goals,if only in spirit.
God bless -
Thank you, Carl.
Those of you who knew Lee can share your memories here, and we will make sure they are read at the memorial service if you are not able to attend.
P.S. A perpetual memorial trophy to honor Lee is definitely planned. Details will be forthcoming about that, as well.