Santa Cruz County DA Bob Lee Passes Away at 57

Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee passed away this morning after an ongoing battle with cancer, district attorney’s officials announced today.

Lee died at his home and spent the Friday evening with friends and family, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosell said in a statement. He was 57 years old.

“It is with deepest personal sorrow and sadness that we say goodbye to our great friend and leader, Bob Lee,” Rosell said.

“Bob was a dedicated, passionate prosecutor who gave every ounce of his talent and energy to serving the people of the community in which he was born and raised,” the deputy said.

Lee interned at the District Attorney’s Office while in law school and joined in 1988 as an Assistant District Attorney for 14 years.

He was elected District Attorney in 2002 and during his tenure formed specialized task forces such as the Gang Task Force and Elder Abuse Task Force. Lee was also a prosecutor in Monterey County in 1985 before moving to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.

“Bob tried many of this county’s most high profile cases and was never afraid of a challenge in the court room. He took great and justifiable pride in never having lost a trial in Santa Cruz County and used his considerable experience to mentor younger prosecutors,” Rosell said.

Lee issued a letter to the Santa Cruz community earlier this month announcing his decision to step down as District Attorney and recommended the Board of Supervisors to appoint Rosell as his successor. Lee was elected to a fourth four-year term in June.

Lee was the youngest of four brothers. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.

He obtained his Juris Doctor at Santa Clara University in 1984.

His wife, Barbara, is an assistant division director at the Santa Cruz County Probation Department. Funeral services are still pending.

--Bay City News