Loading...
Obituary — David Ellis Lee
September 03, 2025
David Ellis Lee
DAVID ELLIS LEE
Feb. 2, 1961-Aug. 15, 2025
Funeral services for David Ellis Lee, 64, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.,
will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 from the Chapel of Freeman
Funeral Home, with Father Tomas Z. Powroznik officiating. Visitation
will be from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 from the Parlor of
Freeman Funeral Home.
will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 from the Chapel of Freeman
Funeral Home, with Father Tomas Z. Powroznik officiating. Visitation
will be from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 from the Parlor of
Freeman Funeral Home.
Following the funeral service, interment will take place at Lee's Chapel
Cemetery in Waynesboro.
Cemetery in Waynesboro.
He died on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 at his residence.
He was a leading high-tech consultant whose passion for life was matched
only by his loyalty to his family and friends, died suddenly on August
15 at his home.
only by his loyalty to his family and friends, died suddenly on August
15 at his home.
At TechCaliber Consulting — a premier technology partner to Fortune
500 companies — David served as technology director. By virtue of his
technical aptitude in an ever-changing industry, commitment to client
satisfaction and near-photographic memory, he forged a reputation as an
international leader in his field. Large IT suppliers grew to fear his
product know-how and relentlessness when he intervened on behalf of
clients to ensure adherence to service-level agreements.
500 companies — David served as technology director. By virtue of his
technical aptitude in an ever-changing industry, commitment to client
satisfaction and near-photographic memory, he forged a reputation as an
international leader in his field. Large IT suppliers grew to fear his
product know-how and relentlessness when he intervened on behalf of
clients to ensure adherence to service-level agreements.
David met the love of his life, Janine Francolini, on a plane flying
from Frankfurt, Germany, to New York. He arranged a beach picnic for
their first date. They were married on April 13, 1996, in Westhampton,
N.Y., with longtime college friend Janet Riley serving as best man.
David and Janine's son, Ellis, was born in 2000 and named for
David's father, Ellis Gaines Lee.
from Frankfurt, Germany, to New York. He arranged a beach picnic for
their first date. They were married on April 13, 1996, in Westhampton,
N.Y., with longtime college friend Janet Riley serving as best man.
David and Janine's son, Ellis, was born in 2000 and named for
David's father, Ellis Gaines Lee.
David built and maintained a wide circle of friends dating from his
childhood and college days. Those close to him deeply appreciated his
zest for life, sincerity, sense of humor, humility, spontaneity and
big-hearted and caring manner. David was always up for a good time or
adventure, and he grew to love many of the finer things in life,
including international travel, thick steaks and expensive wine.
childhood and college days. Those close to him deeply appreciated his
zest for life, sincerity, sense of humor, humility, spontaneity and
big-hearted and caring manner. David was always up for a good time or
adventure, and he grew to love many of the finer things in life,
including international travel, thick steaks and expensive wine.
In addition to Janine and Ellis, David is survived by his sister, Gina,
and her husband, Kevin King; in-laws Rick and Joan Francolini and Karen
Connell; and eight nieces and nephews: Adam, Anna, Claire, Matthew,
Nolan, Quinn, Rene, and Tara.
and her husband, Kevin King; in-laws Rick and Joan Francolini and Karen
Connell; and eight nieces and nephews: Adam, Anna, Claire, Matthew,
Nolan, Quinn, Rene, and Tara.
David was born on Feb. 2, 196, to the late Ellis and Florence (Schena)
Lee. "When David was about 18 months old, our maternal grandfather
told our mother, 'He's really going to be something,'" Gina
recalled. "Our Nono was prescient, but he did not yet know that David
would also be a wonderful brother and a good son."
Lee. "When David was about 18 months old, our maternal grandfather
told our mother, 'He's really going to be something,'" Gina
recalled. "Our Nono was prescient, but he did not yet know that David
would also be a wonderful brother and a good son."
He grew up in Rhode Island and enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and
playing pranks on unsuspecting friends. David graduated from Tabor
Academy in Marion, Mass., where he excelled academically and was a
member of the crew team.
playing pranks on unsuspecting friends. David graduated from Tabor
Academy in Marion, Mass., where he excelled academically and was a
member of the crew team.
He truly blossomed at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. David
enrolled with the intent of pursuing premed studies but switched to
electrical and electronics engineering (computer science), a discipline
where he distinguished himself and was inducted into the Eta Kappa Nu
honor society. He worked as an intern with IBM in Vermont. David was a
popular member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and earned the nickname
"Grubber" for his fierce determination to succeed in everything he
did.
enrolled with the intent of pursuing premed studies but switched to
electrical and electronics engineering (computer science), a discipline
where he distinguished himself and was inducted into the Eta Kappa Nu
honor society. He worked as an intern with IBM in Vermont. David was a
popular member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and earned the nickname
"Grubber" for his fierce determination to succeed in everything he
did.
He ranked first in his Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
class and was named a Distinguished Midshipman in each of the six
academic quarters that he was part of the program.
class and was named a Distinguished Midshipman in each of the six
academic quarters that he was part of the program.
Upon graduation from Northwestern in 1984, he was recruited to join Booz
Allen Hamilton as an associate in Washington, D.C. He later worked as
International Marketing Manager at California Microwave and Senior
Manager at Deloitte Consulting before finding his longtime professional
home at TechCaliber. He worked there for nearly 23 years.
Allen Hamilton as an associate in Washington, D.C. He later worked as
International Marketing Manager at California Microwave and Senior
Manager at Deloitte Consulting before finding his longtime professional
home at TechCaliber. He worked there for nearly 23 years.
"He's not replaceable," said colleague and friend Larry York, a
managing director at TechCaliber. "At some point, we'll have another
technical director, but there is not another David Lee out there."
managing director at TechCaliber. "At some point, we'll have another
technical director, but there is not another David Lee out there."
At Ellis' urging, David re-embraced his Catholic roots in recent
years. Although he had already been confirmed himself, Ellis attended
classes with David and served as his father's confirmation sponsor at
Mary, Mother of Light Maronite Catholic Church last year. David was
active with the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council in Palm Beach
Gardens, serving as secretary and was deeply involved with the Kairos
Prison Ministry. His work with the men who were incarcerated was one of
the most meaningful experiences of his life. Providing spiritual support
to individuals and their families was life-changing for him.
years. Although he had already been confirmed himself, Ellis attended
classes with David and served as his father's confirmation sponsor at
Mary, Mother of Light Maronite Catholic Church last year. David was
active with the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council in Palm Beach
Gardens, serving as secretary and was deeply involved with the Kairos
Prison Ministry. His work with the men who were incarcerated was one of
the most meaningful experiences of his life. Providing spiritual support
to individuals and their families was life-changing for him.
"David was a very gentle person," said David Tabony, a fellow member
of the Knights of Columbus. "He was very loving and very caring."
of the Knights of Columbus. "He was very loving and very caring."
In lieu of flowers, David's family asks that donations be made to
Catholic Charities of Palm Beach County's "Prison Ministry."
Catholic Charities of Palm Beach County's "Prison Ministry."
An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.
Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.
%> "