Lee A. Berthelsen ’57

Lee died Oct. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. He came to Princeton from St. Mark’s School, where he excelled in academics and baseball, playing semi-professionally while not attending school. At Princeton, he majored in French. Receiving a full scholarship, he also served as a waiter in Commons. He joined Terrace Club, spent time as a research assistant in the modern languages department, and spent vacation time working for the Waldorf Astoria in New York, his hometown.

After graduating with honors, Lee continued in the hotel business, first with the Waldorf and then with Hilton, Loew’s, and Holiday Inn, in all of which he held increasingly important management positions. With Holiday Inn he became a corporate vice president and managing director of operations in Europe, Africa, and the Mideast. He then became president of Villacentres Ltd. in Canada, managing both hotels and nursing homes, and then a board member and chairman of Preferred Hotels. After engineering the sale of Villacentres, he became president of Marcus Hotels in Wisconsin, overseeing the renovation of the historic Pfister Hotel and the purchase and renovation of the Americana Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Lee married Carla, and then Harriet Whittemore, and after her death he married Bridgette. Retiring in 2001, Lee spent time visiting relatives, and painting, and was noted for singing, often some operatic tunes like Mario Lanza, his favorite performer. He is survived by Bridgette; children Lee, Kevin, and Michele; and stepchild Carole.