Lee James Stubbs 4/23/1951- 03/14/2023 was born in upstate New York and moved with his parents, Ron and Millie Stubbs, to his beloved Tucson when he was 6 years old. He was educated in the Amphi school district and graduated from Canyon Del Oro High School in 1969. At the request of Professor Peter Marroney, Lee started at The University of Arizona that same month to act in his first musical. He loved theater, was a gifted actor, director, musician, and singer.

Lee was a minister for many years, pastoring in northern NM, Maryland and Atlanta. During that time, he was also an early morning radio host, but his love of teaching called him back to finish his degree in Theater Education at the University of AZ and to start his master's work at Jacksonville State University. During his time at the U of A in the 1990's, he performed in operettas for the music department and enjoyed touring with them. He spent the next 20 years as a high school educator, teaching English, Speech, Drama and Debate in Chino Valley, AZ, Savannah, Ga, and Wimberley TX. He also taught musical theater at St. Gregory's (The Gregory School) in Tucson. He was everyone's favorite teacher because of his dry sense of humor.

He was one of the founding members, along with his wife, of Tucson's Invisible Theatre. He was also involved in The People's Theater, Millennium Theater, Lionheart Theater, The Wimberley Players, and was on the board of directors for The Historic Holly Theater after he retired. He was a student of language himself and spoke 3 languages fluently, and even in his later years began to learn a fourth. He loved a good road trip with stops at every dusty bookshop along the way. He traveled to many places around the world throughout his life, but he returned to Paris several times because he loved it so much.

He is survived by his wife, Connie, who he met in a college drafting class when they were just 19 years old. They have 4 sons who also survive him, Michael Stubbs (Angela), Jeremy Stubbs (Steven), Peter Stubbs, and Alex J. Stubbs (Lisa). His grandchildren, Tabatha, Andie, Tate, Benjamin, and Cameron James were the true loves of his life. He is also survived by his honorary grandchildren Monica Hernandez and Jasmyn Quintanilla. Bon Voyage, Lee J. You always kept us laughing.

The family is planning private memorial services.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.