Lee Houston Stinnett

LEE H. STINNETT Lee Stinnett, aged 70, passed away in the early morning hours of November 7, 2009. He was a native of Madisonville, Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Army and then attended the University of Kentucky where he received both a BA and MA in English. His first professional job was as a reporter for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. Later he was a reporter for a former newspaper in Charlotte, NC. After a stint as Publications Director at Emory University, he became the Executive Director of the Southeast Association of Newspaper Editors (ASNE). For the last eighteen years of his career, he served as Executive Director of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. While a resident of Arlington, Virginia, he served as an early President of the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance. In 1999, he retired and moved to Asheville with John Fragale, his partner of many years. He was a graduate of Leadership Asheville for Seniors and a participant in the Swannanoa Music Festival Chamber Series. Until his Parkinson's disease prevented further participation, he was the editor of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra Guild newsletter. In addition to his partner John, Lee is survived by two sisters, Joy Waldrop and her husband, Pete, Ann Cook and her husband, Ed, and by his brother Mike Stinnett and his wife, Debbie. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Friends wishing to do so may make contributions in memory of Lee to The Asheville Symphony Guild Music Education Program, PO Box 2852, Asheville, NC 28802.