Walter B. “Terry” Lee Obituary

Peabody – Walter B. “Terry” Lee 78, husband of Donna (Wilchinski) Lee, died Saturday, July 26, 2025. Terry was one of a kind; he left this world fighting a year and a half battle with cancer. Being a veteran, he was privileged to be admitted to the Bedford VA Hospital where he received extraordinary loving care.

Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Walter and Mary (Flynn) Lee. He was raised and educated in Peabody and was a graduate of Peabody High School, class of 1964. He continued his education at Northern Missouri State Truman College and earned a degree in law enforcement from Northeastern University in Boston.

An honorably discharged veteran, he served his country during the Vietnam Era as a member of the United States Marine Corps as a military police officer at Paris Island.

Terry had been employed for twenty years as a police officer for the Town of Swampscott and at the time of his retirement, he served as a sergeant and a member of the motorcycle unit.

Active in the City of Peabody, Terry served as an assistant to Coach Niz (who was like a brother to him) of the Peabody High School football team from 1981 to 2004 where they won numerous championships over the years. He also played Semi-Pro Football with the N.H. Chiefs in the New England Football League and coached the North Shore HAVOC Team. He later coached the Mt. Ida Football team in 2006 and 2007 and was part of their first winning seasons.

Terry was a son, a brother, a cousin, a football player, a Marine, a husband, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, a police sergeant, a football coach and a proud Peabody resident. He was passionate and made an impact of every aspect of his life.

Whether you knew him as “Walter”, “Terry”, “Terence”, “Big T” or “Commander”, you were a large part of his amazing life. Terry cherished his family and friends. He leaves us with a song in his heart.

In addition to his wife with whom he shared fifty-six years of marriage, he is survived by a son, Terence Lee and his wife, Bobbi of Peabody, a daughter, Melissa Lee of Beverly, two grandchildren, Kaylee Lee of Beverly and Terence Lee of Peabody, a close dear friend, Kathy Thompson of Danvers and nieces and nephews. He was also the father of the late Jeffrey Scott Lee and brother of the late Betsy Merry and George Coley Lee.

ARRANGMENTS: A funeral service will be held for both Terry and his late son, Jeffrey at the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730.