Oplinger, Lee Jay View/Sign Guest Book


LEE JAY OPLINGER
ITHACA - Lee Jay Oplinger was born December 30, 1947. A native Ithacan, he left this life on June 18, 2007, succumbing to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
He was laid to rest June 21 at Greensprings Cemetery in Newfield, in a natural burial in keeping with his love of the environment. A graduate of Cornell University, Lee was a City of Ithaca forestry technician for eleven years. He oversaw the planting of thousands of trees and managed the city's tree inventory system. Lee helped coordinate the Citizen Pruners, a volunteer group tending to Ithaca's trees. Lee was a sweet, caring man who enjoyed gardening, cats, butterflies, music, Christmas celebrations, photography, and the outdoors. He knew the Latin names of every tree in Ithaca. Surviving are his fiancée, Laura Blakeley; sons, Michael and Brandon of Newfield; siblings, William (Irene) Oplinger of Lacey, Washington, Priscilla (Jere) Conover of Freeville, Katherine Ross of Ithaca, and Jeannie (Ron) Pluck of Ithaca; and many nieces and nephews. His parents, Percy and Elizabeth (Allen) Oplinger, predeceased him. Memorial donations may be made to Hospicare of Ithaca, the ALS Association, Upstate New York Chapter, PO Box 127, Route 5W, Elbridge, NY 13060, or the Lee Oplinger Memorial Tree Fund, c/o Andy Hillman, City Forester, 245 Pier Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. A celebration of Lee's life will be held at 2 p.m.
Sunday, July 1, at Hospicare, 172 East King Road, Ithaca. Please bring your memories and a dish to share.