Obituary of Lee Landis

Lee Landis passed away Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Phoenixville Hospital after a period of illness.  He was 81.

Born December 21, 1942, Lee was the son of H. LeRoy and Anita (Johnson) Landis. After graduating from Spring-Ford High School in 1961, Lee worked at a variety of jobs before deciding on the study of architecture. Lee began his studies in 1964 at the Temple University School of Architecture, where he would earn his Bachelor of Arts degree. 

In 1966, Lee had the good fortune to marry Susan (Dreibelbis), and together they lived in Philadelphia while pursuing their educational goals, he at Temple University and she at Temple and later Drexel University. 

In the summer of 1971, Lee and Susan embarked on a three-month motorcycle/camping "grand tour" of Europe, traveling across the Continent on a silver-gray BMW R75/5, an activity they continued to enjoy back in the USA.

Lee's first job out of school was in the design office of his former professor, Gene Dichter. Later in his career, Lee was associated for many years with the Philadelphia architecture firm of Bower Lewis and Thrower (later known as BLT Architects), until his retirement in 2003.

Their daughter, Anja, was born in 1975, and four years later the trio bought and moved into an 18th-century stone house in Coventryville, PA, a house the restoration of which became a passionate avocation for Lee, who not only provided the designs for the years-long project but also did the bulk of the work himself. (Perhaps you have seen the period-accurate doors he built for every entrance to the house.)  For many years Lee served as chairman of the Coventryville Architectural Review Board. He was also a member of the South Coventry Township Planning Commission.

An avid outdoorsman, Lee enjoyed hunting, fishing, and sailing, usually in the company of devoted friends.

Lee is survived by Susan, his wife of 58 years; their daughter Anja Landis and her husband John Boger; grandchildren Sam and Lily; and sister-in-law Kathy Landis and nephew Karl Landis. Lee's brother Marshall died in 2008.

A celebration of Lee's life will be held at the convenience of the family and will be announced soon.   Memorial gifts may be made in Lee’s name to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (http://www.cmtausa.org/).