★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
MIDN Lee Sutherland '78, USN was lost on December 5, 1977 when the two-seat training plane he was aboard crashed near BWI airport. The civilian instructor pilot aboard was also killed. Lee was participating in a Naval Academy program to "flight training aspirants and determine their suitability as Navy pilots".
From his roommate of 3.5 years, Glen Woods '78:
He had the broadest shoulders I have ever seen and was as strong as an ox. He was a wrestler, and you could tell by just looking at him. But he was as gentle as anyone could be. We used to wrestle in our room, and he could have snapped me like twig, but he always only let it go so far. We teamed up often against a couple of '77 guys that would burst into our room during study hour, and we would spill out into the passageways and get it on. So much fun.
He also was smart as anyone. He was an electrical engineer, and he used to get excited when he solved the toughest problems. He really got into it as he enjoyed the challenge.
He took me up to Deep Creek Lake, and we would go waterskiing in very cold water. That was the first time I ever saw anyone ski barefoot! He was good.
Lee was more of a mentor to our plebes than a hard-ass. He certainly obeyed the regs; he was not an over the wall kind of guy, but he embraced life and tried to make the best of every situation. He never met somebody he couldn't befriend. He was kind and generous, but he would have made a great warrior. His brother, Grant '76, was a Naval Aviator and Lee was very excited about going to flight school and flying jets. He would have been a great aviator.
Lee was survived by his parents, brother, and two sisters.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/LEE_E._SUTHERLAND,_MIDN,_USN