in memory of HavanaLee

While catching up on some of the posts I have missed since being away
I came across one from Paul M. Cook that Lee Albert passed away. This
truly saddens me and I deeply regret that I lost touch with this truly
unique and specical individual. Paul, I wonder if you remember a night
at Cuban Pete's in Anaheim? Mullaney tried to kill us wiht a Punch DC.
Lee came in with his trademark diet pepsi. I gave him a belated b'day
gift of a 3 finger leather case. as a joke I had filled it with 2
swisher sweets and a high quality stick which I don't remember. Lee's
response to the swishers was "I've never had one of those." I made it
clear that it was a gag and he could just toss them but he said he
always smoked gifted cigars no matter what they were out of respect to
the giftor. Lee, Paul and I were among the last people there that
night and talked in the parking lot well after closing. Lee smoked the
nub of his cigar until I swear he burned his lip.

Lee knew that I was a starving law student so he would hire me to
write motions for him. It was my first paid legaI work and I really
appreciated it.

"DavidK" <davidckimberly@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:76814def-bfa8-41e8-aee1-b466a56813bc@k1g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
> While catching up on some of the posts I have missed since being away
> I came across one from Paul M. Cook that Lee Albert passed away. This
> truly saddens me and I deeply regret that I lost touch with this truly
> unique and specical individual. Paul, I wonder if you remember a night
> at Cuban Pete's in Anaheim? Mullaney tried to kill us wiht a Punch DC.
> Lee came in with his trademark diet pepsi. I gave him a belated b'day
> gift of a 3 finger leather case. as a joke I had filled it with 2
> swisher sweets and a high quality stick which I don't remember. Lee's
> response to the swishers was "I've never had one of those." I made it
> clear that it was a gag and he could just toss them but he said he
> always smoked gifted cigars no matter what they were out of respect to
> the giftor. Lee, Paul and I were among the last people there that
> night and talked in the parking lot well after closing. Lee smoked the
> nub of his cigar until I swear he burned his lip.
>

Yes, that was a fun night. That was back in the days when a herf would
break out on a moments notice. I don't know what it was about that Punch DC
but it made for some pretty red faces. As I recall Lee was driving the
Avalon at the time and kept getting pulled over by the cops who wanted to
know why the back end was so low. 300 pounds of newspapers will do that. I
imagine the cops pictured something more promotion worthy like heroine or a
corpse.

> Lee knew that I was a starving law student so he would hire me to
> write motions for him. It was my first paid legaI work and I really
> appreciated it.

He was also famous for showing up around dinner time and would root through
your humidors like a squirrel looking for acorns.

He was unique. I do wish he had taken care of himself, though. We all knew
his ways would catch up with him at some point.

Paul