Joseph Lees, 93, fast-pitch softball umpire

Joseph Lees was "blessed with this childlike enthusiasm for everything," son Gary said. "He got excited about every little thing you were doing.

"Even in his 90s, he wanted to hand you the tools that measured the board you were going to cut."

On Sunday, March 1, Mr. Lees, 93, of Hainesport, a fast-pitch softball umpire who was inducted in 1978 into the Philadelphia Softball Association Hall of Fame, died at home.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Lees grew up near Chelten and Ogontz Avenues and graduated from Germantown High School.

He began a 44-year career as an administrative clerk at Heintz Manufacturing at Front Street and Olney Avenue. He retired in 1984 as a human resources associate for its eventual parent firm, Kelsey-Hayes, on Roosevelt Blvd.

When Mr. Lees joined Heintz, it was making steel auto body parts and steel furniture.

By the time he left the Heintz Division of Kelsey-Hayes, the firm was also making aerospace equipment, according to newspaper stories.

His career was interrupted by World War II service as an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Corps.

When he returned to civilian life, his enthusiasm gave him a second career.

"We would go over to the Max Myers Playground and he would be up there," his son said. "Two, three nights a week," from the 1950s into the 1970s, he would be umpiring adult teams at the playground in the Castor neighborhood.

"When he retired from the fast pitch," his son said, "for many years he would do high school girls' softball, in the '80s and some part of the '90s."

And at one time, his son said, he refereed adult full-court basketball games.

"He was a pretty active guy," his son said.

For the last 20 years, his son said, Mr. Lees and his wife, Ann, were members of the Golden Artisans, a senior social club.

Besides son Gary and wife Ann, Mr. Lees is survived by sons Michael, Joseph, and David; daughter Georgine Taylor; a sister; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

A viewing was set from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 6, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 1603 Marne Highway, Hainesport, followed by a Funeral Mass there, with interment at Sunset Memorial Park, Feasterville.

Donations may be sent to Disabled American Veterans, Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250 or www.dav.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mountlaurelfuneralhome.com.