Dedicated COA volunteer helped Apple users at Harvard Senior Center computer lab
Doug Lee. (Courtesy photo)
Doug Lee, 84, of Harvard died peacefully on Nov. 22, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in New York City, Doug was the son of Marge and Bill Lee, both lifelong New Yorkers. He carried that New York spark with him wherever he went.
Doug was an engineer by training, which meant he was endlessly organized and always ready to dive into the newest technology. After retiring, he happily shared that knowledge with anyone who needed it—most often as a volunteer at the Harvard Council on Aging. Many a frustrated Apple user walked out of that building with a fixed device, a newfound skill, and a smile.
Doug also had a famously dry, understated sense of humor—classic “dad humor”—that he delivered straight-faced, leaving listeners laughing before he’d even cracked a smile.
Doug is survived by his wife, Dee; his daughter, Jennifer Lee; his granddaughter, Cassidy Lee, a sophomore at the University of Alabama; and his daughter-in-law, Jill Lee of Fort Myers, Florida. He was predeceased by his son, Bryan; his brother, Greg; and his parents.
Being a simple soul, Doug requested no service and no celebration of life. His final wish was to be buried next to his son. He also insisted on using an older photograph rather than a recent one—the picture he felt looked most like “him.” (He absolutely hated his license photo.)
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of the Harvard Council on Aging (FHCOA), P.O. Box 474, Harvard, MA 01451. Doug hoped that all the folks he helped over the years with their Apple computers, phones, and watches might consider giving to the Friends, who in turn provide the little extras the Harvard Senior Center enjoys—like the ice cream socials, the computer room, and the many things that aren’t always in the budget.
The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton and Life Care Center of Acton for the compassion they showed Doug in his final days. A heartfelt thank-you as well to our wonderful ambulance squad, dispatcher, and police officers who were the first to arrive that early October morning and helped Doug with such kindness.
Those who loved him will miss his steady presence and his dry one-liners—both of which made the world feel a little lighter.