Rye Lifer: Sally Lee

(PHOTO: Sally Lee sitting with her daughter, Dorothy Lee, on their Mead Place house steps in December 1968.)
(PHOTO: Sally Lee sitting with her daughter, Dorothy Lee, on their Mead Place house steps in December 1968.)

Rye Lifers is a MyRye.com series that introduces you to people that have spent their lives in Rye – people who have grown up in Rye, worked in Rye, come back to raise their family in Rye. Do you know someone we should profile for Rye Lifers? Tell us.

Today, meet Sally Lee.

MyRye.com: Why are you a Rye “Lifer”?

Lee: My husband, Richard “Dick” Lee, and I moved to Rye after we got married in London on September 7, 1966. We rented on Walnut Street in downtown Rye, and we used to go to Jerry’s Market. We then bought 37 Mead Place. We were there during a bad flood and were evacuated by boat! Afterward, we moved to 62 Allendale Drive and lived there for 44 years.

(PHOTO: Sally Lee sitting with her granddaughters, Beatrice and Madeleine Larzul, in the Allendale Drive house on July 31st, 2007.)
(PHOTO: Sally Lee sitting with her granddaughters, Beatrice and Madeleine Larzul, in the Allendale Drive house on July 31st, 2007.)

Where in Rye do you live now?

(PHOTO: Sally and Dick Lee at The Osborn in 2019.)
(PHOTO: Sally and Dick Lee at The Osborn in 2019.)

Lee: Dick and I moved to The Osborn, 4105 Theall Road, on April 3, 2017.

Where do/did you work in Rye and what do/did you do?

Lee: I have been a parishioner of Christ’s Church since 1966. I served on the Vestry, taught Sunday school, Lector and wrote and staged two plays: Visions of Faith, a rendering/reenactment of the history of Christ’s Church Rye in 1695, and Journey into Fellowship, a play about St. Paul and my husband played St. Paul. I wrote, produced, and directed both of these plays.

I acted with The Rye Youth Council Players, traveling to different Westchester Schools while Dorothy and Kate were in RHS. I was a docent at Rye Historical Society many years ago and was involved with SPRYE since its founding 12 years ago.

As an Osborn Resident, I am on the Board of The Residents Association, involved with the various committees: Hospitality committee, Library committee, and Chair of the Interfaith Committee. I also work in the Osborn Library.

(PHOTO: Sally and Dick Lee on Rye Playland Beach in August 1967.)
(PHOTO: Sally Lee and Dick Lee on Rye Playland Beach in August 1967.)
(PHOTO: Dorothy Lee, Sally Lee's daughter, playing with neighborhood friends on Mead Place in 1969.)
(PHOTO: Dorothy Lee, Sally Lee’s daughter, playing with neighborhood friends on Mead Place in 1969.)

What in your view are the two or three greatest Rye traditions—current or past?

Lee: I enjoy the annual Osborn School Halloween Parade, the children walking in their costumes over to the Osborn Campus. [Also:]

  • Flag Day: Last week the children came and sang for Flag day in our auditorium at the Osborn.
  • In the past, I also enjoyed the Halloween painting on the store windows.

What about the great Rye institutions—community organizations, shops, restaurants. Which ones are or have been part of the Rye fabric?

Lee:

  • Favorite restaurants: LPQ, Ruby’s, and Rafele
  • Christ’s Church
  • Rye library: Over the years, they have extended and now they have a wonderful children’s section.
  • The Osborn is also a wonderful community resource. Even before moving, we would come and visit people and enjoy officiating at the Osborn chapel service. Right from the beginning, we appreciated its link with the Osborn school.
(PHOTO: Sally Lee at The Osborn behind her grandaughter's RHS graduation sign in 2019.)
(PHOTO: Sally Lee at The Osborn behind her grandaughter’s RHS graduation sign in 2019.)
(PHOTO: (L-R): Sally Lee, Kate Flynn, and Dick Lee on a walk near Rye Playland on December 27th, 2004.)
(PHOTO: (L-R): Sally and Dick Lee and their daughter, Kate Flynn, on a walk near Rye Playland on December 27th, 2004.)

Thank you, Sally!

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2 Comments

  1. You outta talk to my brother, Andy Ball, a Rye lifer. Our family has been in Rye since 1855 and Andy and my sister Diane still live in Rye. In fact Diane lives in the same house where my mother was raised. Although my wife and I moved to Fairfield in 1992, my 30+ years teaching in RCSD makes me feel like a lifer.
    Rgs.,
    Dave Ball

  2. What a wonderful family the Lees are! I am blessed to have known them for over 40 years. Their kindness, warmth and humor have always been greatly cherished. Thank you Beatrice for this beautiful profile!

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