GUILDERLAND — James H. Lee of Albany “was called to Heaven,” his family wrote, on Thursday, April 28, 2016. He was 86.

“Jim (aka Lee) was a wonderful, kind, gentle, and caring man,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather.”

He was born July 20, 1929, the son of the late Harold Lee and Barbara (née Vogel) Lee Taylor. At the age of 7, he moved with his family into the Guilderland neighborhood where he would meet his wife.

Growing up in Albany and Guilderland, he attended Vincentian Institute, before joining the United States Coast Guard at the age of 17. After his military service, Mr. Lee began his career at Central Warehouse where he worked for 20 years before continuing his career at Shoemaker Paper in Latham where he worked as a warehouse foreman until his retirement in 1991.

On May 12, 1956, he married Catherine C. Goodrich at St. Margaret Mary’s Church, (currently known as All Saints Catholic Church). After their marriage, they remained in the Guilderland neighborhood. On their first wedding anniversary and Mother’s Day, they gave birth to their first child. Twelve years later, they would bring into the world their fourth child.

They raised their four children in their Guilderland home and enjoyed sitting on the deck, greeting all the neighbors as they went by.

“He would not want us to forget to mention all of his current fur grandbabies, Ruby, Loki, and Kelly, and those fur babies and grand fur babies that predeceased him,” his family wrote.

As a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Mr. Lee was a member of the American Legion in Albany. He was also a member of the Guilderland Elks.

Mr. Lee was an avid hunter, and enjoyed weekend hunting trips at a Vogel family camp in Corinth, New York with his sons, family, and friends. He also spent many days with his sons fishing at Efner Lake at the Goodrich camp in Corinth. He was very proud of the vegetable garden he would grow near his house.

He used to joke with his grandchildren when they called him Grandpa.  He would always say, “No, that is Grumpy Grandpa” and start laughing.

Besides his travels with the Coast Guard, he and his wife enjoyed many other trips. Their summer family vacations were at Hunt Lake in Corinth. After retirement, they enjoyed many cruises including an Alaskan cruise that was a gift from their children for Mr. Lee’s retirement. They also enjoyed road trips to Florida and to the many states where their oldest daughter was taking up residence.

“He will be deeply missed by those who had the privilege to know and love him,” wrote Mr. Lee’s family.

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James H. Lee is survived by his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Catherine (née Goodrich) Lee; his children, Michael Lee and his wife, Deborah, Cynthia Tremonti and her husband, Lawrence, James Lee and his wife, Laureen, Jennifer Nichols and her husband, David; grandchildren, Laura Tremonti and her fiancé, Anthony Fracassa, Taylor Lee, Deanna Lee, Alec Lee; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

“The family would like to thank the staff of the Stratton VA Medical Center for the wonderful care they provided Jim during his stay,” his family wrote.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 28, at 9 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 16 Homestead St., Albany (behind CVS). Interment will follow in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery in Glenmont. Relatives and friends are invited to attend  the services.

Arrangements are by the Hans Funeral Home in Albany.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fisher House, 113 Holland Ave, Albany, NY 12208.