Lee Kenneth Brady
known as Chicago Bingle
also written Lee, Chicago Bingle in the book
Biography
An only son who grew up near extended family, including several aunts. Named for his grandfather, Leonidus Bray Brady. His first marriage produced three children, two boys and a girl, whose names are not given; the marriage ended in divorce. Diana met him three years after the divorce and describes their shared life. A democratic political activist and lifelong liberal, he was best friends with Sy Fox. Loved fishing, babies, Christmas, and Mom's handmade ornaments. His favorite charity was Habitat for Humanity. Died of lung cancer; Diana attributes his death to smoking addiction. Diana's father called him a “Chicago Bingle.” Described as Kelly’s sweet and gentle father and Irish daddy. Slept with Kelly on his chest and taught Diana how to bathe her. Occupation also recorded as “Successful entrepreneur” (Dee's Chapter). Met Diana in Chicago. Described as having red hair, freckles, and a gleaming smile; loved fishing and wished to care for Diana, his true love. Death date also recorded as “January 28, 1996” (Carol's Chapter). Described as a soft-spoken Southern man with sparkling eyes and a big smile. His death occurred on the narrator's mother's birthday. His relationship to Diana is not specified. Helped Bob take Daddy to the hospital after his stroke.
Timeline
September 1st, 1926
Birth of Lee Kenneth Brady
Diana's ChapterLater that holiday evening, 1967
Lee and Bob take Daddy to the hospital
After Mom called Iris to report that Daddy was worse, Lee and Bob took him to the hospital. He stayed two weeks.
Carol's ChapterApril, 1988
Mom visits Diana and Lee in Florida
Mom visited Diana and Lee, who helped her relax and took her on a cruise. Her abdominal pain persisted.
Carol's ChapterJanuary 28th, 1995
Lee's death and Diana's comforting vision
Lee died of lung cancer on Mom's birthday. Two hours earlier, Diana saw white birds diving in the lake behind their home and felt that Mom was coming to take Lee with her.
Diana's ChapterJanuary 28, 1996
Lee dies on Mom's birthday
The family was saddened by Lee's death on the narrator's mother's birthday.
Carol's ChapterWhen he turned fourteen
Varsity football and school bus driving at fourteen
Qualified for varsity football and drove the school bus. The school board hired mountain boys for their skill on dangerous mountain roads.
Diana's ChapterAt sixteen; four years in W.W.II
Lee enlists in the Navy
His father signed for his enlistment. Lee became a Naval pilot and flew missions for four years.
Diana's ChapterAfter his discharge from the service
Lee's first marriage
His spouse is unnamed. They had two boys and a girl; the marriage later ended in divorce.
Diana's ChapterAfter his discharge from the service
Harding College and ordination
Entered college and was ordained a minister in the Church of Christ.
Diana's ChapterIn time
Lee becomes a Chicago rector
Became rector of what Diana describes as the largest church in Chicago.
Diana's Chapterdate not given
MBA studies at the University of Chicago
Enrolled to work on an MBA; completion is not stated.
Diana's ChapterAfter enrolling to work on an MBA
From teaching to an insurance agency
Left the church to teach high school English and History to forty black students described as immigrants from the South. Sold insurance from the school's boiler room, then left teaching to open a successful agency.
Diana's ChapterThree years after his divorce
Diana meets Lee
On Lee's first visit to meet her family, he took Diana for a ride on her newly retired father's motor scooter despite her father's protests.
Diana's Chapterdate not given
Lee helps Diana's father during a stroke
Encouraged Diana's father and took him to the hospital when he had his stroke.
Diana's ChapterWhen Lee was in the insurance business
Campaign manager for Sy Fox
Lee was a democratic political activist and managed his best friend's campaign.
Diana's Chapterdate not given
Move to South Florida
After moving, they discovered the Florida Keys and began regular weekend fishing trips.
Diana's ChapterEvery Friday after work, after moving to South Florida
Weekend fishing trips to Marathon Key
Loaded their station wagon and spent Saturdays and Sundays fishing.
Diana's ChapterTheir first year fishing in the Keys
The Sailfish they never forgot
While holding Diana's rod on a King Mackerel party boat, Lee hooked and landed a huge Sailfish. The Marathon News printed his picture. They regretted deciding not to mount it.
Diana's ChapterWhen she was four years old
Kelly’s Father’s Day card
Kelly made a card saying, “Daddy, I love you more than macaroni and cheese.”
Diana's Chapterdate not given
Diana meets Lee in Chicago
The poem describes Lee as the man of Diana's dreams and Diana as his true love.
Dee's Chapter
Stories mentioning Lee
- Lee's Many Talents and a Scooter Ride into the FamilyDiana traces Lee's childhood near his extended family, work in his grandfather's grocery store, school achievements, Naval service, ministry, teaching, and successful insurance business. After his first marriage failed, Diana met him three years after his divorce. Her father initially regarded Lee suspiciously, but a bold scooter ride with Diana became a memorable turning point. Lee and her father remained friends, and Lee took him to the hospital when he had a stroke. Lee also formed a close bond with Mom and managed his best friend Sy Fox's campaign.
- Fishing, Not Catching, in the Florida KeysLee and Diana spent weekends at the Hurricane Motor Lodge on Marathon Key, fishing all day Saturday and Sunday. During their first year, Diana handed Lee her rod while she stepped away, and a huge Sailfish took her bait. Lee landed it, and The Marathon News printed his picture. They declined to mount the expensive fish, expecting more catches like it, but neither encountered another Sailfish.
- Cherished Ornaments and the Comfort of White BirdsDiana remembers Lee's warmth, generosity, love of babies, and reverent annual unpacking of Mom's Christmas ornaments, especially the shamrock and gold fish ornaments she made him. Lee died of lung cancer on January 28th, 1995, Mom's birthday. Two hours before his death, Diana watched white birds fishing in the lake behind their home and felt Mom was coming to take Lee with her. White birds continued to bring Diana comfort in her grief.
- Welcoming Kelly and Raising a Florida BabyDiana recalls her delight in pregnancy and Kelly’s birth, her mother’s help, and Lee’s tender care for their baby. Kelly disliked clothes and shoes. During a holiday visit to Moline, she refused to walk in the snow, then undressed indoors and was found dancing on the back porch singing “coolding!”
- To Diana, with Love: Games, Dreams, and CaringDee's affectionate poem celebrates Diana's talkativeness and recalls shared mischief, puddles, mud pies, May baskets, hollyhock dolls, and dandelion games. It praises Diana's academic dedication, recalls her bringing home a cat to debone after driving from Wesleyan, and describes her meeting Lee in Chicago. The poem closes by honoring Diana's sensitivity and the caring conversations Dee treasures.
- Caring for Daddy Through His Last MonthsDaddy suffered a stroke on Christmas Eve, 1967. Not realizing its seriousness, the family went to Iris and Bill's while Mom stayed with him. After Mom called Iris to report that he was worse, Lee and Bob took him to the hospital. Following two weeks there, his agitation prompted a search for other care. The family rejected St. Anthony's Hospital in Rock Island because patients were smoking while Daddy struggled to breathe. Mom tried caring for him at home with help from the girls and daily visits from Virginia, but the burden became exhausting. He was eventually taken to East Moline State Hospital. He died at sixty-three on May 23, 1968, surrounded by Mom and all the children, and is buried next to Mom at Riverside Cemetery in Moline, Illinois.
- A Florida Visit and a Last Tender TouchAfter a couple of years of severe abdominal pain and inconclusive tests, Mom visited Diana and Lee in Florida in April 1988. They helped her relax and took her on a cruise, but the pain continued. Diana persisted in seeking medical help until an x-ray revealed a large ovarian cyst wrapped around blood vessels. A complete hysterectomy found no cancer, but Mom could not recover and died of heart failure at seventy-seven on April 22, 1988, in Coral Springs, Florida. Carol cherishes the hand caresses they exchanged while Mom was on a respirator. Mom is buried beside Daddy at Riverside Cemetery in Moline, Illinois.
- Remembering Lee's Sparkling EyesCarol recalls the family's sadness when Lee died on January 28, 1996, Mom's birthday. She remembers his soft-spoken Southern manner, sparkling eyes, and big smile, and expresses her love for him.
In the family geneagram
Recorded in the geneagram kept with the book. Where the corrected pages and the master run differ, both readings are shown and the corrected one is the reading the archive follows.
Corrected record · Diana Joyce Guild & Lee Kenneth Brady
- Born
- September 1, 1926, Troy, North Carolina.
- Died
- January 28, 1996, in Coral Springs, Florida of Cancer and Heart Failure. Ashes scattered in the ocean off Key West, Florida. Age 69.
Master record — superseded · Diana Joyce Guild & Lee Kenneth Brady
- Born
- September 1, 1926, Troy, North Carolina.
- Died
- January 28, 1996, in Coral Springs, Florida of Cancer and Heart Failure. Ashes scattered in the ocean off Key West, FL. Age 69.
Referenced in
Family corrections
Notes sent in by the family and approved on review. They sit alongside the original record — the book's wording is never changed.
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