Lee Hage Jamail (Mrs. Joseph D.) Jamail died Monday, January 15, 2007, after a fiercely determined battle with cancer. She was born to Mitry Kalil (M.K.) and Lily Hage on November 28, 1930, in Austin, Texas. She lived all of her life with incredible grace, dignity and compassion for others and will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, an amazing grandmother and a devoted friend and mentor. Lee was graced with keen intellect, an inquisitive nature, strong will and firm convictions. Lee Jamail earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and she did graduate work in speech pathology at The University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her life, she was one of Texas's foremost supporters of education, health care and the arts. Lee gave both her time and considerable financial resources to The University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Baylor College of Medicine, The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Museum of Fine Arts and many more. She served on the Texas Education Coordinating Board and chaired its Health Affairs Committee. Her experience and expertise made her a major contributing factor in the restoration of the Weiss House on the Rice University campus, and the building of the new addition to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Lee also lent her talents and hard work to the restoration of the historic Bayou Bend mansion. She was Chair of the Bayou Bend Advisory Committee and oversaw the effort to renovate and modernize the house-museum preserving Miss Hogg's collection of decorative art. Lee's love of architecture and building is attributed to her father's construction business and she was proud to have designed each of the beautiful homes that she and her husband built. Remembered as a gracious, kind, giving and deeply caring woman, especially concerning children, Lee helped create the first volunteer program of the Houston Speech and Hearing Center. She also established the Jessie H. Villarreal Professorship in Speech Pathology at The University of Texas at Austin. She and her husband were responsible for the creation and funding of many scholarships for deserving students at various colleges and universities in addition to the over two thousand scholarships they established at The University of Texas at Austin where the Swimming Center is named for her. Lee served on the Development Board of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston where the student center bears her name. She was a Life Trustee and Vice-Chairman of the Board of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She was a member of the UT-Austin Development Board, Executive Committee of the UT Chancellor's Council, The Texas Campaign Committee, Austin, and the President's Executive Council. She and her husband were named Disstinguished Alumni of the Houston Ex-Students Association and they received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from The University of Texas at Austin. She also served on the Board of Governors of Rice University, Board of Trustees of the Kinkaid School, the Development Board of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston, and the Advisory Board of San Marcos Baptist Academy. Lee was a founding member and was also on the Board of Directors of the Jamail Foundation as well as the Jamail Galveston Foundation dedicated to helping those in need. She was well known for her philanthropy. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of fifty-seven years, Joseph D. Jamail, sons, Dahr Jamail, Randall Jamail and Robert Jamail and grandchildren, Vanessa, Justice, Blanche, Lili Marie, Dylan, Joe, Robert, Noah and Martha, brother M.K. Hage, and sister Christine Fidel. She also leaves many dear and cherished friends who will miss her many thoughtful and loving ways. The family is deeply grateful to all who lovingly cared for her during this difficult time, especially LeSabre Murdock, R.N., Debreca Malone, R.N., Cornelia Abanobi, R.N., Dr. Bobby Alford, Dr. William Lunn, Dr. Horacio Adrogue, Dr. William Zoghbi, Dr. Terry Hallot, and Dr. Ritsuko Komaki, Dr. Frank V. Fossella at M.D. Anderson. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 17th of January, in the Library of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. The funeral service will be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 18th of January, at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, with the Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, Bishop of Texas (retired), and the Rev. Dr. Laurens A. Hall officiating. Honored to serve as casket bearers are Lee's grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Bobby Alford, James Baker, Cody and Scott Baldwin, Peggy and Bill Barnett, Sally and Mack Brown, Jackie Burke, Barbara and George Bush, Peggy Cire Graves, Penny Coleman, Rose and Harry Cullen, Denise Davidson, Sandy and Lee Godfrey, Gwen Goffe, G.P. Hardy, III, Janet Hansen, Carole and Ron Krist, Ping and David Leebron, Bessie Liedtke, Frances and Peter Marzio, Katie and Luke McConn, Patricia Ohlendorf, Carlita Olive, Barbara and Alvin Owsley, Shirley Bird Perry, Kim and Bill Powers, Macey and Harry Reasoner, Edith and Darrel Royal, Wilhemnia Robertson Smith, Hon. Ruby Sondock, Maggie and Paul Stallings, Lissa and Cy Wagner, Isabelle Wilson and Opal Wuench. Following the funeral service, the family will gather for a private interment ceremony at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston. In lieu of usual remembrances, the family has suggested that contributions in memory of Mrs. Jamail be directed to the charity of one's choice.
Published in Austin American-Statesman on Jan. 17, 2007