Patricia-Ann Lee

June 28,1931— January 21, 2026

Patricia-Ann Lee, 94, of Saratoga Springs, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Woodlawn Commons on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Born June 28, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey, she was the only child of Colonel Gordon Stephenson Lee and Gladys Hasson Lee, who predeceased her.

A summa cum laude graduate of Kean College in New Jersey, Pat began her career as an art teacher before earning master’s and doctorate degrees at Columbia University in New York. In 1967, she arrived in Saratoga Springs to take up a teaching position at Skidmore College. An inspirational teacher of medieval, Stuart, and Tudor history, she introduced generations of eager students to the discipline of history, bringing the past to life for them. Numerous students have testified to the enormous impact she had on their minds and lives. A serious scholar, she published essays in such journals as The Historian, Renaissance Quarterly, and Film and History. The lives of great women were a special interest of hers and, indeed, she wrote the splendid opening essay on Lucy Scribner, founder of Skidmore College, in the history of the college written by the late Mary Lynn: Make No Small Plans.

At Skidmore, with a founding gift contributed by one of her students, Pat established the History and American Studies Lab, which houses materials in Anglo-American history, a lasting legacy of her commitment to sharing with students the close study of primary documents. She also created a prize for excellent work in history in memory of her parents.

At Hillsdale College, Pat set up a fund entitled “The Ladies: Laura W. Jury and Gladys Hasson Lee” for the purchase of books on history and music. She also contributed to, and volunteered at Yaddo, the retreat for artists in Saratoga Springs, and she was an Officer in the medieval Order of St. John the Hospitallers.

After her retirement in 2001, Pat focused more intently on her art work, producing numerous ambitious landscapes as well as studies of clouds, flowers, ceramics, and fruits. From time to time, she showed her work in local exhibitions and often gifted her work to friends. Always creative, Pat was a talented seamstress, a maker of jewelry, a resourceful carpenter, and a sought-after painter of murals and Saratoga jockeys.

Pat was a loving daughter, passionate teacher, fiercely loyal friend, and caring godmother to Kent Gladstone, Jessica Martin, and Laura Gladstone. A charismatic presence, full of lively enthusiasm, Patsy-Ann (as she was called by her father) was the best companion for a visit to a museum or discussion of a new book; she had a lively intelligence that questioned, debated, and deliberated. She was committed to learning until the end. Finally, she was the staunch friend you always wanted in your corner. She will be deeply missed.

Her friends wish to convey their gratitude to those who gave her such strong support during the last months of her life, especially Pati Seber and Gina Mergel at Woodlawn Commons.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, 25 April, 2026, at the Woodlawn Commons Saratoga Room, 156 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs.

Donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Wesley Foundation at https://www.thewesleycommunity.org/wesley-foundation