Columbus ‘O’D’ O’Donnell Lee III, Baltimore-area bartender, dies

Caitlyn Freeman, Baltimore Sun
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Columbus “O’D” O’Donnell Lee III, a well-known restaurant manager and bartender in the Baltimore area, died of heart failure Jan. 22 at his home in Timonium. He was 65.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Roland Park, Mr. Lee was the son of Columbus O’Donnell Lee Jr., former vice president of Maryland National Bank, and Margaret Van Hollen Lee, a fashion coordinator.

His father, Mr. Lee, known as Bodie, was a descendant of Thomas Sim Lee, who was governor of Maryland from 1779 to 1782 and from 1792 to 1794.

Mr. Lee was the youngest of four children and had three sisters.

“He was kind, gentle,” Hannah Byron said of her brother. “He had a big heart, was outgoing and very good-looking. He was a very loyal friend.”

Mr. Lee graduated from the Boys’ Latin School of Maryland in 1977. He played varsity football, soccer and lacrosse throughout high school, according to his family-submitted obituary. He spent summers as a lifeguard in Bethany Beach in Delaware and Ocean City in his teen years.

A lover of sports, Mr. Lee coached lacrosse at Community College of Baltimore County Essex, and for recreation leagues in the Towson area, his sister said. He had an almost photographic memory of sports statistics.

Ms. Byron said her brother’s love of people and infectious personality led him to a 30-year career bartending and managing several restaurants in the Baltimore area, including a stint at the Mt. Washington Tavern. He retired from bartending at 60.

“He loved it,” she said. “He loved people. And I mean he was the kind of bartender [who would] make you feel so warm and welcomed for all kinds of backgrounds. He was a very gentle, gentle soul. By the end of the night, he would know everything about you.”

Mac Kennedy met Mr. Lee when the two were in kindergarten together. Echoing Ms. Byron, he said Mr. Lee was someone who cared deeply about others.

“Everybody knew who he was.” Mr. Kennedy said. “He was like Elvis or Shaq. You didn’t need to say his last name. Everybody knew O’D because he had such a gregarious personality. And he was so curious. He wanted to know everybody. And because he was in the restaurant business for years and years, he got to know everybody.”

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Ms. Byron and Mr. Kennedy said Mr. Lee had a distinctive “booming voice.” Ms. Byron said she’ll miss her brother’s gentle nature the most. As the youngest child, he was often doted on by his sisters.

“He was a born leader,” Mr. Kennedy said. “When he talked, everybody listened.”

Outside the restaurant business, Mr. Lee loved cooking and was especially proud of his crab dip and chopped salad.

Mr. Lee is survived by his three sisters, Ms. Byron, of Owings Mills, Margot Ducloz, of Atlanta, and Katherine Lee, of Baltimore, as well as several nephews and a niece.

The family is planning a celebration of life.