Former Intermountain Catholic editor retires after 27 years

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

(From left) Barbara Stinson Lee, her husband Jack, Bishop John C. Wester and Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald enjoy a light-hearted moment during Stinson Lee's retirement luncheon on April 30. IC photo/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — Barbara Stinson Lee, who worked for the Intermountain Catholic for 27 years, including 20 as editor, has retired. For the past three years she had worked part-time.

Stinson Lee used her God-given talents of writing and journalism "generously and prodigally for the good of the Church," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, during the farewell luncheon April 30.

As one of the first people from the diocese the bishop met when he was appointed to Utah six years ago, Stinson Lee was generous, kind and thoughtful to both him and his family and friends, Bishop Wester said. "It’s who you are that impresses us most," he said.

"She was such an enthusiastic journalist," said Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus. "She made the Intermountain Catholic her life."

Her faith also was evident, he said; Stinson Lee regularly attended the daily Mass at the Pastoral Center.

The hallmarks of Stinson Lee’s journalism was her highlighting the achievements of young people, and her international travels that resulted in articles about poverty, justice and peace, Msgr. Fitzgerald said.

Locally, Stinson Lee focused on many of the same issues on stories such as the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki and the miners’ strike in Huntington, said Dee Roland, the diocese’s former government liaison, who attended the luncheon along with many of Stinson Lee’s friends and colleagues.

Stinson Lee also worked to increase the Intermountain Catholic’s coverage of the diocese’s various ethnic congregations, said several of those at the luncheon.

"Each of your articles about the Vietnamese activities in Utah made us experience a warm welcome and sense of belonging to our diocesan family," said Father Dominic Thuy Dang Ha, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Kearns. "I treasure all your contributions to our growth and enriching our faith."

Likewise, "Barbara just did some amazing things, trying to get the Intermountain Catholic out there, and especially trying to [expand into] the Hispanic community," said Cece Holt, a former member of the newspaper’s advisory board.

Among the highlights of Stinson Lee’s career were two that occurred in 2006: She published the book "Pilgrimage, a journey through the Holy Land with the words of Archbishop George Niederauer," and the Utah Press Association presented her with its highest individual recognition, the Master Editor Publisher Award.

In her comments at the luncheon, Stinson Lee said, "I’ve told people today I’m having trouble being both happy and sad: Happy because I’m retiring, sad because I’m retiring.... If you ever feel like you’d like to work any place for 27 years, this is the place to do it. The people are wonderful and grateful, and you have given me so many ideas and so much happiness."