Floyd Leon Fawcett's Obituary
The family of Floyd Leon “Lee” Fawcett sadly announces his passing on Aug. 31, 2017 from complications related to colon cancer. He was born in St. George Utah on Jun. 21, 1936 to Floyd Snow and Vivienne Bastas-Fawcett. Lee and his family later moved to Oakland by way of Santa Rosa. He was a proud graduate of Oakland’s Castlemont High School, Class of 1955.
After high school, Lee joined the United States Army National Guard, where he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. After two years of community college, he went to work for Pacific Bell (later American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T)) working in Data Services and later as a Technical Instructor with Bell Labs. He retired from the company in 1989.
Upon joining AT&T, where he was affectionately nicknamed “Leaky”, Lee immediately became actively involved in the Telephone Pioneers of America, the volunteer community service arm of his employer; and later received a life membership in the organization. During his tenure with the Pioneers, Lee worked on many volunteer projects. Two of the most notable were his work in training the hearing disabled to work on and repair teletypewriters. Later he was the developer of a signal device to help hearing disabled individuals and others confined to a wheel chair to better train and control their service dogs. The device was designed and built from his own creative imagination, given to Canine Companions for Independence, and helped dramatically improve the training of their dogs and the quality of the service each animal provides to their person. The effort garnered recognition, accolades, and deep appreciation from Canine Companions, ATT, and the Pioneers of America. Lee also served as President of the Bay Area Retired Telephone Employees Club for two years.
In 1989, Lee joined the Crow Canyon Lodge No. 551 of the Free and Accepted Masons, which he participated in until his death. He applied his many talents in support of the Lodge, particularly in woodworking. He built artistic shadow boxes to assist the Lodge in improving their displays; and he creatively built a podium as an exact replica of that used by the Lodge at that time.
During his lifetime, Lee practiced community service at all levels. He was always ready and willing to assist neighbors, friends, family, and organizations with which he was associated. His immense skill set and willing nature were constantly in demand. There was nothing Lee could not do with his creative mind, keen intellect, and talented hands. If he didn’t know how to do “it”, he figured it out – usually without financial cost to anyone but himself. Lee was an electrician, a computer technician, a telecommunication expert, an alarm installer, and Mr. Fixit for almost anything; as well as a creative artist. In his lifetime, he enjoyed the outdoors, learned to fly a plane, traveled, and spread his sparkling good humor wherever he went, most frequently with a joke and a beautiful smile.
Upon retiring from AT&T, Lee turned to a major project – building his own home in Oakland. He spent several years designing and building his cherished home. He added beautiful and bountiful gardens and his own solar facility: his finished home now creates more energy than it uses and passes this “excess” energy back to the grid. His workshop and garage stand as a testimony to his love of working with his hands, constantly helping others, and his creative talent; along with his belief that everything can be
fixed and reused. He often commented that if he couldn’t get outside and have a project to work on with his hands and mind, he would be lost.
Lee is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Anita Vukmirovich Fawcett; his mother, Vivienne Bastas-Fawcett and her long-time partner, Clifford Antone; by his daughter, Christina Lee Fawcett and her son, Lee’s grandson, William Quinn Wells. He also leaves behind his grieving in-laws, Milosh and June Vukmirovich, Natale Vukmirovich Conkel, and Jo Ann Vukmirovich Radke and her partner Tom Hawkins; and his many adoring nieces, nephews, Lodge Brothers, friends, and neighbors.
Lee’s passing leaves a huge hole in the lives of those that knew and loved him. His warm smile, willing heart, and sparkling humor are already missed. No more the welcome hugs, smell of pipe, and happy kisses. No more the one to go to when something needs fixed. No more can we all “call Lee” for help, but always we will remember his place in our hearts.
Lee was cremated and interned at Chapel of the Chimes, Hayward. A memorial service is being planned for later and details will be announced when they are developed. Donations may be made in Lee’s name to Crow Canyon Masonic Lodge No. 551, 4521 Crow Canyon Road, Castro Valley CA 94552; or to the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga CA 94556.
The family invites you to post any comments or thoughts about Lee here on this page; and greatly appreciate your thoughts and prayers on Lee’s behalf.
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