[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1762-E1763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO DR. JOSEPH PATRICK LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life 
and mourn the passing of, Dr. Joseph Patrick Lee, the provost and 
senior vice president for academic affairs at Barry University in Miami 
Shores, Florida.
  Dr. Lee was an institution at Barry University, known throughout the 
Barry family and to generations of students. He was an extraordinary 
scholar and an excellent administrator. He served quietly, competently, 
and well, helping to develop and expand Barry College into the major 
University it is today. His passing is a huge loss.
  Dr. Lee was also an integral part of the South Florida community for 
over 25 years. He served on the boards of directors of numerous 
community groups, including president of the Miami Shores Chamber of 
Commerce and Rotary Club of Miami Shores. Dr. Lee's many honors 
included: the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship; Danforth Foundation 
National Fellowship; Fulbright Fellowship, Universite de Paris; and 
National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Fellowship. He was elected 
Commissioner of Florida's Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 
from 2000-05, and served on its executive council in 2004.
  Born November 30, 1942, in Leitchfield, Kentucky, Dr. Lee came to 
Barry University from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, 
where he held the positions of vice president for academic affairs; 
academic dean; and associate professor of French. His love of language 
led him to earn his doctor of

[[Page E1763]]

philosophy from Fordham University in New York, with a major in French, 
minor in Spanish. He earned his bachelor's degree from Brescia College 
in Owensboro, Kentucky, majoring in French with minors in English, 
Spanish and history.
  Considered a preeminent scholar of Voltaire and an internationally 
respected scholar and lecturer, Dr. Lee co-authored ``Livre dangereux: 
Le Dictionnaire philosophique de Voltaire'' in 1994, and published book 
reviews in 10 journals.
  Dr. Lee became Barry University's vice president for academic affairs 
in 1981. As its chief academic officer, Dr. Lee was an integral part of 
Barry University growing from a small college of just under 2,000 
students to today's institution of more than 9,200. Barry University, 
Florida's fourth-largest private institution of higher education, 
provides bachelor's, master's, law, and seven doctoral degree programs 
across the state. Founded in 1940, the university is sponsored by the 
Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan. Barry University, named one of 
the most diverse institutions of higher education in the South by US 
News and World Magazine for the last seven years, possesses a diverse 
student population from more than 70 countries characterizing Barry's 
global community.

  Dr. Lee's life mirrored the diversity found at Barry University. His 
research and travels took him to France, England, Switzerland, Belgium, 
Netherlands and Germany, and his reputation led him to more than 30 
locations throughout the United States and the world as a speaker and 
guest lecturer. Further, he was a member of more than 15 professional 
organizations, including the American Association of Teachers of 
French, American Association of University Administrators, American 
Comparative Literature Association, American Society for Eighteenth-
Century Studies, British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Modern 
Language Association, North American Association for the Study of Jean-
Jacques Rousseau, and the South Atlantic Modern Language Association. 
Dr. Lee also was appointed to the editorial board of the ``Complete 
Works of Voltaire,'' and was national secretary-treasurer for Delta 
Epsilon Sigma.
  Dr. Joseph Lee's achievements were great, as was his commitment to 
Barry University's community and the broader community of South 
Florida. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and all who were 
touched by his greatness.

                          ____________________