The first Black manager of any bank in the region in 1966, Aubrey Lee, died last week at the age of 80.
“Everybody know of Mr. Aubrey Lee,” said New Detroit Inc. President and CEO Shirley Stancato, who worked as regional manager at NBD under Lee early in her career, told Crain’s last year in a story about his career. “He was a hero among us.”
Lee was the first Black manager at the National Bank in Detroit, resulting in him paving the way for minorities in the finance industry.
He is credited with giving commercial loans to minorities and was instrumental in the careers of many prominent Detroiters, including former Mayor Dave Bing and Emmett Moten, co-owner of the DoubleTree Fort Shelby and a longtime Detroit development figure.
“Through attentiveness and competence, able to glide through the worlds of small-business owners and corporate chairmen alike,” said Moten about Lee’s ability to unite the unknown in the banking industry earlier this year. “Both sides respected his ability. If I need help, I know who to call. I have unbelievable respect for Aubrey.”
The life of Lee will be celebrated this week.
Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Oct. 14, with an Omega Psi Phi service at 6:30 p.m., at A.J. Desmond & Sons in Royal Oak.
The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills. Visitation at the church begins at 10 a.m. Memorial tributes may be made to the American Heart Association or Cross of Christ Church.
Lee was survived by Jeane, his wife of 59 years; a sister, Nellie; three sons, Aubrey Jr., David and Mark; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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