CORNWALL – A great many members of the Cornwall community are mourning the loss of Lee Theodore.
The 2021 Cornwall Citizen of the Year and entrepreneur died Tuesday (Aug. 12) of cancer.
He was 39 years old.
Theodore was deeply involving in the community with many organizations including the Cornwall-SDG Boys and Girls Club and he was part of the Ghost Walk for Charity Committee in 2017.
Tributes have been posted on social media throughout the day Wednesday reflecting on Theodore’s influence in the community.
“Lee possessed a rare gift for bringing people together, sparking vital conversations, and inspiring action. Whether it was through his championing of local business, his work in fostering a more inclusive community, or simply by sharing his infectious optimism, his impact was profound and will be felt for years to come,” the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce wrote in a post.
He was also recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2022 by the Cornwall Sunrise Rotary Club for his contribution to the community.
Theodore was part of a panel for Black History Month at the Cornwall Public Library in February 2023.
Most recently, he signed the city’s book of acknowledgments in recognition of his significant contributions to Cornwall.
“Be someone to anyone. That creates community. Believe in community. Community will believe in you. Believe in yourself. ‘Choose Cornwall’,” he wrote in the book July 7.