Lee W. Curley

Lee W. Curley “Big Daddy” Aiken, SC--Lee Wayne Curley passed away on Friday, April 3, 2015. A Celebration of his life will be held Sunday, April 26, at 3 o’clock at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church. Dr. Matt Rich officiating. Big Daddy, so called by his grandchildren because he was larger than life, was born to Thomas and Edna Curley in Bridgeton, NJ on October 9, 1940. His father Thomas was one of nine boys – from an Irish family that comprised their own baseball team that is recognized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While his family was committed to bottle making at the Owens Illinois glass factory, Lee enjoyed playing sports and going to school. He was no stranger to hard work – with early jobs on a snow-filled newspaper route and setting up pins at the bowling alley. Lee was a star athlete in high school and joined ROTC to become the first person in his family to obtain a college degree. While obtaining a degree in business at Rutgers University, Lee played both baseball and football. He was on the first undefeated football team and had the then record for the longest run after pass in Rutgers history and was drafted by the Washington Redskins. After college, Lee was a flight instructor at Craig Air Force base in Selma, AL. There he trained pilots on the T-33 and the T-38, the world’s first supersonic trainer. Lee went on to fly extensively in Latin America as a pilot with Pan American Airlines. In 1970, he began working as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. He later became branch manager for Robinson-Humphrey and built a 40 year career with expertise in investments and financial planning. Up until his illness, he continued to trade stocks for long-term clients at his own firm Kathwood Advisors. Lee had a long history of civic engagement and philanthropy. He served as District Governor for the Rotary Club of Augusta, President of the Clinton Anderson Hospital Foundation, Chairman of Leadership Augusta, and board member for the Rabun Gap Nacoochee School. He was a loyal supporter of his Alma Mater and the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He loved reading, researching stocks, cigars, and traveling the world. He had a special place in his heart for Fripp Island and coastal Maine. But, what he loved most of all was his family. Lee leaves two children, Debbie and David, with a sense of sass and adventure, a hard work ethic, appreciation for the finer things in life and respect for those less fortunate. He will be missed by his daughter-in-law Lisa Curley and three grandchildren – Brayden, Brooks and Kate who will remember him as “nice, hilarious and the real Santa Claus”. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Tommy. He also leaves his sister-in-law Regina Curley and two nieces Diane and Carole Curley in New Jersey. The family will receive friends following the service at the home of David and Lisa Curley, 3010 Lake Forest Drive, Augusta, GA. Specials thanks to the nurses and doctors in 4 South at Georgia Regents University Hospital who provided loving care and attention to Big Daddy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Lee Curley to the GHSF Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Patient Assistance Fund and mailed to Kelly Schulte, GRU, 1120 15th Street; Augusta, GA 30912 (706.721.9394). Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta in charge of arrangements (803.278.1181). Visit the registry at www.poseycares.com.

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Lee W. Curley

October 9, 1940 - April 3, 2015