Vale Emeritus Professor Adrian Lee, FRSN, who passed away on 21 July 2023 at the age of 81. He has left behind his beloved wife Nerissa and children Andrew and Amanda.
Adrian Lee was an academic and a lover of life with a passion for music. ITC had the pleasure of liaising with Adrian in his role as president of the LaVoce Community Choir – a true gentleman.
Academic Career
Emeritus Professor Adrian Lee was a distinguished academic who held the following positions:
University of New South Wales University of New South Wales 54 yrs 8 mos
Emeritus Professor – Apr 2006 – July 2023
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Quality Improvement) – Apr 2000 – Apr 2006
Progression from Lecturer to Professor of Medical Microbiology and Head of School
Professor of Medical Microbiology – 1990 – 2000
Head of the School of Microbiology and Immunology – 1990 – 1998
Adrian was a fellow of the Royal Society of NSW.
The Royal Society of NSW (RSN) encourages studies and investigations in Science, Art, Literature, and Philosophy to enrich lives through knowledge and inquiry.
In their tribute to Emeritus, Professor Adrian Lee, they noted:
“Robin Warren and Barry Marshall needed Adrian Lee for the ground-breaking work they did to earn their Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005. He heard them present in Brussels in 1983 and was sufficiently impressed to want to help them in their endeavours. He, on the East Coast, helped those colleagues in Perth — he was the one who was able to culture and grow the helicobacter pylori organisms for them. When Warren and Marshall received the Nobel prize, Adrian Lee accompanied them to Stockholm where he was an honoured guest.
Gastroenterologists in Australia know the names of Warren and Marshall but few know, or remember, the important contribution of Adrian Lee to that paradigm-altering enterprise. So, he is an unsung hero.
Do you remember the cryptosporidium scare when cryptosporidium cysts were found in Sydney drinking water? Doubtless, the kangaroos in the water catchment were ingesting and shedding cryptosporidium spores constantly, and the presence of those spores in water should not have surprised anyone. Adrian Lee’s advice at that time was to drink the water and not to worry too much, but there was a public outcry and mothers in Sydney were still boiling drinking water for their children – just to be sure.
Adrian Lee was approachable and friendly and ready to answer questions — he was a pleasure to be with and to know.
He bore his final and long illness with quiet fortitude.”
Emeritus, Professor Adrian Lee was talking about Gut Microbiome before it was fashionable to do so.
Lane Cove Citizen
In 2016 Adrian Lee was awarded a Lane Cove Citizenship award for his work in the music and art sector.
In 2021 The Village Observer interviewed Adrian Lee, and ITC highly recommends you read the full interview here.
The opening paragraph of The Village Observer’s article on Adrian sums up the man brilliantly:
“How much can be crammed into one life? Adrian Lee, long-time Lane Cove resident and known to many as the President of the local choir La Voce, may very well be the envy of us procrastinators. His Memoirs “An Enthusiastic Life: Family Guts, Academia and Leadership” reveal a man who has led a jam-packed, not-a-moment-wasted, noteworthy and above all, happy life. He jokes in shi memorise that he is often distracted by Fox Sports. It is terribly hard to believe.”
La Voce Communtiy Choir
Adrian was the driving force behind the LaVoce Community Choir. His dedication to the choir was shown during COVID as he worked to bring the Choir online and then to rebuild the choir after the lockdowns were over.
LaVoce Community Choir is a group that loves to sing, many of whom have not sung in a choir before. Adrian was very keen on the fact that you did not need to audition and didn’t need to be able to read music.
Funeral Arrangements
Adrian Lee’s friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Monday, 31st July 2023, at 1.30 pm in the Palm Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium.
Cover Photo Source: The Village Observer
