(Robert) Lee Hatcher II passed away peacefully at home in Seattle on April 7, 2019, attended by his loving family, and his best friend from seventh grade Tom Hearn. Lee was born on May 20, 1949, in Oakland, California, and grew up in the Bay Area. During his life, he also lived in Corvallis, Oregon; Fremont, California; Seattle; Juneau, Alaska; Brussels, Belgium; and recently in Twisp for 12 years. He and his wife, Carole Schroeder, moved to Seattle in August 2018.
In 1989, in the midst of a successful career as a consulting engineer, Lee embarked on a new professional journey and returned to school in Brussels to pursue his master’s degree in human ecology. As a founding member and executive director of Sustainable Seattle and through his work as a sustainability consultant, he devoted his professional life to facilitating awareness of the resources and tools that can help humans live in balance with the natural environment. In Twisp, he accepted his long-term Watershed Coordinator position only after the late Vicki Welch assured him, “They don’t shoot watershed coordinators anymore.” Brave in all ways, Lee made many friends over the course of his life. He was also a valued member of Room One in Twisp, serving as treasurer and board member.
Lee was a long-term student of classical guitar with Terry Hunt, and loved to mountain bike, hike and swim in the Methow. Most recently, he participated in retreats and men’s groups with the Mankind Project, and was a huge supporter of the group’s work to name and work to reduce men’s participation in institutionalized harms of toxic masculinity. The group works to build mature male role models who mentor other men rejecting violence and abuse and learning new ways of resolving conflicts.
Lee is remembered for having an unwaveringly kind heart; a big, contagious laugh; a passion for music and guitar playing; an adventurous spirit (he would do anything once); a physically and emotionally healthy lifestyle; and boundless love for those he met.
Lee’s daughters Suni Hatcher and Paige Hatcher Monlux were a highlight in his life, and he was unwaveringly supportive and loving as a father, and as stepfather to Benjamin and Morgan Mentzer. He also loved being a grandfather (BoPa) to Iris, Hayden, Camellia (Mel), and Cole in Seattle, and Audry and Violet in Portland. He is also survived by his faithful farm cat Platel, who rarely left his side and learned to happily follow Lee on his daily walks in Seattle.
Lee is in the hearts and minds of his beloved wife, Carole Schroeder, their children, grandchildren, sisters, nephews, nieces and many other loving relatives, friends and colleagues around the world. Lee was a huge presence in all our lives and will be sorely missed.
